Artist Feature: Bruce Larsen
In a small studio on the coast of Fairhope, Alabama, artist Bruce Larsen breathes new life into forgotten fragments of the past. What others see as scrap, he sees as potential — twisted metal, rusted gears, and discarded machinery reborn as powerful sculptures that pulse with movement and meaning. Each piece carries a story of renewal, capturing the strength, grace, and resilience that define both art and humanity.
Larsen’s work speaks to something deeply universal: the beauty that emerges from rebuilding, the courage to reimagine what’s been lost, and the creative spirit that connects us all. Honored as the 2009 Sport Artist of the Year – Sculptor by the United States Sports University and its American Sport Art Museum & Archives (ASAMA), his sculptures stand as symbols of endurance and transformation — reminders that even the most broken things can rise again, stronger than before.
We Are Dedicated to the Preservation of Sports History, Art and Literature
The American Sport Art Museum and Archives (ASAMA), located on the campus of the United States Sports Academy, is dedicated to the preservation of sports history, art and literature.
Founded in 1984, ASAMA has recognized the importance of the cultural connectivity of athletic competition and artistic expression since its inception.
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The Thomas P. Rosandich Gallery preserves the performance and movement of man by creating an awareness of the role art media play in capturing our sports heroes and perpetuating their performances for posterity.
Arguably one of the most aesthetically pleasing structures in higher education, the museum is located in an artistic atmosphere in the architecturally-acclaimed main campus building.
The ASAMA collection is comprised of more than 1,800 pieces across all media including paintings, sculpture, prints, posters, photography and assemblage. The collection is believed to be the largest of sport art in North America and possibly the world.
Also featured is the largest public art offering in the state of Alabama, the famed two-story tall mural by Maestro Cristóbal Gabarrón. “A Tribute to the Human Spirit” graces one wall of the main campus building and has become a landmark on the Eastern Shore.
In addition to maintaining the art collection, ASAMA conducts the Academy’s Sport Artist of the Year Award. The award, which was first presented in 1984, is given to an individual who is perceived to capture the spirit of sport, so that future generations can relive the drama and excitement of today’s competitions. The gallery also periodically features showings by renowned sport artists.
Richard Sullivan
Ernie Barnes
Stephen Holland
Rick Rush
Steven Lester
Bruce Larson
Meet Steven Lester
Steven Lester is an award-winning contemporary artist whose paintings explore the stories and emotions behind sport and everyday life. A native of Atlanta, he holds a degree in Visual Arts from Georgia State University. His career spans five decades as an art director, creative director, and fine artist, with work held by corporations, institutions, and private collectors around the world.
Lester has received more than 100 national and international awards for creative excellence. His honors include the United States Sports University’s International Sports Artist of the Year Award(2019) and the American Sport Art Museum and Archives’ Zhenliang He Cultural Medallion. He is also a Clark Hulings Foundation Executive Fellow.
From the intensity of athletic competition to the quiet concentration of fly fishing, Lester finds stories in the activities that connect people with one another and the natural world. His paintings use color, texture, and movement to convey the feeling of a moment, inviting viewers to connect with the experience behind the image. He continues to explore new approaches to visual storytelling, drawing on a lifetime of observation and creative practice.
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About ASAMA
Founded in 1984, the American Sport Art Museum and Archives (ASAMA) is dedicated to the preservation of sports art, history and literature. The ASAMA collection is composed of more than 1,800 pieces across all media, including paintings, sculptures, assemblages, prints, posters and photography.
