Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Steven Lester of North Atlanta, Georgia area

We recently had the chance to connect with Steven Lester and have shared our conversation below.

Steven, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
I am a studio fine artist. I sometime lose all track of time when I paint.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a native of Atlanta and an award-winning contemporary narrative artist whose paintings are collected by major corporations, institutions, and private collectors around the world. Over the course of five decades, my career has spanned art direction, creative direction, and fine art, earning me more than 100 national and international awards for creative excellence.

I hold a degree in Visual Arts from Georgia State University and have been honored with recognitions such as the United States Sports Academy’s International Sports Artist of the Year Award, the Zhenliang He Cultural Medallion from the American Sport Art Museum and Archives, and selection as a Clark Hulings Foundation Executive Fellow. In 2020, I was invited to present a solo exhibition of Olympic-themed paintings at the Tokyo American Club during the Summer Olympic Games—an opportunity unfortunately canceled by the pandemic.

At heart, I believe art should tell a story—one that draws viewers into a moment of beauty, passion, or meaning. Whether it’s the power of a racehorse, the grace of a polo player, or the quiet reverence of an angler at a mountain stream, I strive to capture not just an image, but an emotion. My subjects—equestrian sport, fly fishing, athletic pursuits, and timeless life moments—reflect a lifetime of experience, grounded values, and a passion for storytelling.

For me, art is about more than stillness; it’s about motion, memory, and the spirit of the moment. Through color, texture, and composition, I want my work to resonate deeply, turning passive viewers into active participants in the story.

Beyond the studio, I’ve been blessed with 46 years of marriage and the joy of raising two children, adopted from Korea and Russia. My journey—as an artist, husband, father, and lifelong learner—continues to shape the work I create, always seeking to inspire with beauty that endures.

— Steven Lester

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One moment that forever shaped how I see the world came decades ago, when I was listening to a cassette tape on my Walkman. The speaker asked a haunting question:
“If we were at your funeral today, and watched a slideshow of your life, what would we see? What kind of fruit would your life have produced?”

Even though I was already a person of deep faith, that question pierced me. It wasn’t about success or titles—it was about legacy. That moment forced me to confront the difference between a life of achievement and a life of significance.

It led me to lay down a successful corporate career to pursue something more meaningful: to create art that inspires, uplifts, and challenges people to live out their own God-given potential.

That question reframed my life—and became the foundation for everything I do as an artist and storyteller today.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could speak to my younger self, I would say this:

“Don’t let your current reality dictate your future. Don’t downgrade your dreams to match your circumstances. Instead, upgrade your vision to align with your destiny.”

For 40 years, I let making a living get in the way of truly living. I didn’t pick up a paintbrush, not because the passion was gone, but because life’s demands crowded it out. Looking back, I would tell myself to keep creating, no matter what.

There will be voices in your head saying you can’t, that you’ll never break through, that the struggle is too much. You’ll feel bruised and beaten at times. But remember—this isn’t the end. Even when you think you’ve hit your limit, it’s not over yet.

Keep fighting. Keep creating. Hope will rise again. Step out of the dark and into the light. Never give in, never give up—because it’s not over.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am deeply committed to the belief that life is a gift from God, and the only way to truly honor that gift is to live it wholeheartedly—without delay, without fear, and without regret.

I believe we are not promised tomorrow, and that “someday” is often the enemy of our destiny. I spent too many years of my early life daydreaming—putting off purpose, procrastinating action, and passively hoping things would one day fall into place. But I’ve come to realize that God doesn’t ask us to wait until conditions are ideal. He asks us to be faithful with what we’ve been given—right here, right now.

I believe God has placed each of us in a specific time, place, and season, not by accident, but by divine appointment. He equips us with everything we need to live fully in the present. The miracle is not “out there.” The miracle is here. The miracle is today.

I believe that every moment is pregnant with purpose, and that living with urgency, clarity, and gratitude is the only proper response to the grace we’ve received. That’s why I try to live by what I call the “one-year rule”: If I only had a year left to live, how would I spend it? Who would I prioritize? What would I say yes to—and what would I let go?

I believe our lives were meant to burn brightly—not drift in apathy or routine. Jesus came to give us life, and life more abundantly—not someday, but today. And so I wake up every morning with this in mind: “Lord, help me live today with passion, purpose, and courage. Help me not miss the miracle hiding in the ordinary.”

That’s the belief I’m committed to.
And I intend to live it—wholeheartedly.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
If I laid down my name and reputation—if all the awards, titles, and public recognition faded—what would remain is the faith I lived by, the people I loved, and the purpose I pursued with my whole heart.

What would remain is a life offered daily as an act of worship to Jesus Christ—not just through words or beliefs, but through the choices I made, the risks I took, and the people I chose to serve. I didn’t always get it right, but I lived sincerely. I lived awake. I lived with conviction that this life is not about building a name—but bearing His name.

My name may one day be forgotten, but the seeds of faith, courage, and generosity I planted in others will remain. I pray they will bloom long after I’m gone—in my family, in those I mentored, in the art I created, and in the young people I encouraged to dream bigger, believe deeper, and love more fully.

If my reputation disappeared, what would remain is the legacy of a man who refused to live with regrets. A man who believed that today was sacred. That purpose matters more than applause. That obedience matters more than image. That serving the next generation, the poor, the broken, and the overlooked was always worth the cost.

What would remain is my quiet yes to God—day after day.

Jesus is what remains. His call, His grace, His Spirit in me. And if I leave anything behind, I pray it’s not just a reputation, but a ripple of redemption. Not just a name, but a living testimony that says:
He walked through the doors God opened. He lit candles in dark places. He ran the race fully alive. And he finished with fire.

That’s what I hope will remain.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stevenlesterartstudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenlesterartist
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenlesterart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lestercreative