Today we’d like to introduce you to Sterling Crawford.
Hi Sterling, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I graduated in 2019 from the College of Charleston with a degree in Finance. At the time, I was excited to pursue a career path that combined my love for numbers with the ability to forecast trends through data. Shortly after graduating, I took a job in Nashville, Tennessee, working for a FinTech startup which was focused on expanding from San Francisco across the East Coast.
In March 2020, I moved back home to South Carolina and began working remotely. During that period, I picked up painting again—a passion I had set aside after taking AP art classes in high school. What began as a creative outlet quickly grew into something more. I loved the entrepreneurial aspect of art, so I started an LLC and began taking commissions, particularly pet portraits. Interest grew rapidly, especially in California, after a painting I did of a vineyard dog was displayed at a winery in Napa Valley.
In 2023, I felt a strong desire to develop a body of work outside of commissions—something more personal and purposeful. Since many of my paintings featured animals, I was drawn to create a series focused on endangered species, eventually centering on the African white rhino. To distinguish this new direction from my commission work, I launched a new website called Stall Three Studio, named after the third, unused horse stall at my husband’s family farm, where I’ve had my studio since 2021. (My husband and I are high school sweethearts who reconnected in 2020 and married in the fall of 2021.)
Since then, my art has expanded to include large-scale portraiture, which I love for its complexity and emotional connection. Stall Three Studio has also evolved into an online gallery offering curated collections of international artwork. We just hosted our second collection launch event in early May, which featured a new series inspired by a recent trip to South Africa, alongside work by two established South African artists—one an abstract expressionist painter, the other a representational printmaker.
We’re now preparing for our fall collection in partnership with a Washington, D.C.–based nonprofit. It will include a series of philanthropic and educational events centered around the featured artwork. It’s been a fulfilling journey blending creativity, purpose, and entrepreneurship—and I’m excited for what’s ahead.
On the finance side, I stepped away from my role at the FinTech company in late 2024—after working part-time since 2022. Balancing the analytical and creative sides of my brain has been incredibly rewarding. It allows me to approach each with fresh perspective and keeps my art practice rooted in passion rather than pressure.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
If someone says everything has been a smooth road, they’re either lying or naive, forgoing the opportunity to appreciate and learn from the hardships.
As a 28-year-old, I can admit that the 20s are filled with so many decisions and there’s no clear answer. Being both analytical and creative comes with its perks, absolutely, but it also has provided difficulties in the way that I have had a hard time figuring out which path to go down. As mentioned in the previous question, I love numbers, data, professionalism, and being in the business world. It’s empowering. But then again, I love the time to be creative. To make something out of nothing, and to share that with others. After the past 6 years of trying to just focus on one or the other, I’ve come to the conclusion at this point in time that I can do both. But they may be fulfilling different purposes for my life. The finance career provides stability, career growth, and income to support myself and my future. The art business provides the entrepreneurship, the freedom to be creative, great networking opportunities, and passion.
I did not learn this overnight, but through trial and error. When I moved to a part time capacity with my FinTech job in 2022, I focused full-time on my art: painting, starting Stall three studio, and hosting the first exhibition and event. It was great, but I was quick to learn that my passion was fading. With this fade in passion, paired with a loss of income I had been used to, I knew I had a choice to make. To either continue putting in the hours into the art business knowing that it does realistically take multiple hardworking years to get any business profitable or get back in the finance ring and continue my art as a part-time role. Not being 110% confident how I wanted my art career to pan out (ie. focus on commissions again, focus on being a gallerist/dealer, etc.) and missing the professional, team aspect that a role in finance and accounting can provide, I decided to start working with my dad who started his own consultancy practice last year.
I am now comfortable with the fact that I can call art my part-time career because i am honest with myself and my passion is back. I know I have a lot more to learn through trial and error of life, and I’m excited to continue to grow and develop both myself and all of my ventures.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Stall Three Studio was founded in 2023 with the debut of a trio of my original paintings focused on rhino conservation. What began as a personal creative endeavor has since grown into a dynamic arts organization and online gallery that curates and exhibits international collections. Our mission is to support global artists by bringing their work to new audiences—while creating immersive cultural experiences that blend fine art, education, and storytelling.
Although we operate primarily online, we are intentional about creating in-person moments that matter. Our events, held in Greenville, SC or at the barn in Laurens, SC where my studio is located (in the third stall of a horse barn, which inspired our name), are designed to be intimate and personal. I value genuineness and authenticity, and I believe art should be approachable—so we keep our gatherings intentionally small to foster comfort, connection, and deeper engagement with the work.
For example, our Spring 2025 Collection Launch included a private preview dinner at Soby’s Loft in downtown Greenville. Guests enjoyed a four-course South African-inspired meal with curated wine pairings, all surrounded by art from the collection—featuring work by two established South African artists and a new series of my own, inspired by a recent trip to the region. These types of events go beyond an exhibition—they’re immersive cultural experiences designed to honor the work and the stories behind it.
Our first official launch, held in Spring 2024, featured a collection titled Space Exploration: Past, Present, and Future. It was a philanthropic effort that raised $7,500 for the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, which supports STEM students at the university level. The project was especially meaningful to me, as I contributed a portrait of my grandfather, Apollo astronaut Charles M. Duke Jr., who served as Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 16 in 1972. We featured work from several internationally acclaimed artists, including UK image restorer Andy Saunders, New York–based Russian painter Nikolina Kovalenko, and British photographer John Angerson. We also included an exclusive video interview with Charlie Duke, available on our YouTube channel.
Each Stall Three Studio collection is supported by a printed and digital catalog, available for purchase on our website. The Spring 2025 edition is currently available at stallthreestudio.com for $12.
Looking ahead, our Fall 2025 collection will be a special collaboration with the Antiquities Coalition, a D.C.-based nonprofit that combats cultural racketeering and the illicit trade of antiquities. The project will include works from artists across the Middle East, Africa, and beyond, with events in Washington, D.C. focused on education, philanthropy, national security, and cultural preservation.
What sets Stall Three Studio apart is our commitment to relationships. I believe art is ultimately a relationship-driven business—between artist and collector, curator and partner, viewer and story. Whether it’s through collaboration with sponsors, connection with collectors, or support for our artists, we prioritize trust and personal connection. That spirit of authenticity is the thread that runs through everything we do.
What I’m most proud of is the versatility the business allows for. Some projects are deeply philanthropic, while others are design-forward or culturally immersive—but all are purpose-driven. As we grow, we’re excited to bring our collections to new audiences, including through participation in art fairs in the near future.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that success doesn’t have to follow a linear path—and you don’t need to wait until everything is perfectly planned or finalized before taking the first step. If you have an idea, go for it. Start where you are with what you have and allow the journey to unfold and evolve naturally. The most important thing is to just begin.
I’ve also learned that authenticity is everything. Whether in art, business, or relationships, people are drawn to what feels real. Staying honest with myself—about what I love, what I value, and what I need—has allowed me to build a career that’s not only sustainable, but deeply meaningful.
And finally, I’ve learned that passion alone isn’t enough—you need structure, support, and a long-term mindset. Building anything worthwhile takes time, trial and error, and a willingness to evolve. That perspective has brought me a lot of peace and renewed energy as I continue growing both as an artist and an entrepreneur.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.stallthreestudio.com / www.sterlingcrawford.art
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stallthreestudio/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sterling-duke-crawford-130786142/
- Twitter: https://x.com/stall3studio
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@stallthreestudio
