Sterling Crawford, 'Dehorned Rhino'

Catalogue Essay

Introducing the second print in the ‘REWILD’ series, 'Dehorned Rhino', an original painting by artist Sterling Crawford, inspired by photography by multi-award winning documentary photographer David Chancellor. This painting captures a crucial moment of rhino conservation, depicting a rhino after it has undergone the process of dehorning. De-horning is a significant preventative effort to remove the horns from the animal in an effort to protect the animals from the scourge of poaching.

The decision to dehorn rhinos is a carefully considered conservation tool, undertaken with the utmost care and precision and performed by a dedicated team of veterinarians, biologists, and conservationists. Occurring on national parks and reservations, rhinos are dehorned to remove the primary incentive for poachers, who ruthlessly target these animals for their valuable horns. 

‘Dehorned Rhino’ serves as a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of those on the frontlines of conservation. It portrays the delicate operation conducted by skilled veterinarians and conservation teams, ensuring that the animals experience no harm or stress in the process. Rhinos, with their incredible resilience, emerge from this procedure unharmed, ready to roam with their lives and dignity intact.

The Artist

Sterling Crawford is a documentary artist and founder of Stall Three Studio.

Sterling, b. 1997, lives and works in Greenville, South Carolina. Graduating from the College of Charleston with a degree in Finance in 2019, she worked for a San Francisco startup Financial Technology company for four years before her true calling led her towards the world of art and entrepreneurship.

With an unwavering passion for the arts and a deep-rooted desire to make an impact, Sterling established Stall Three Studio. Recognizing the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, innovation, and achievements, she harnessed the power of art to explore and reflect upon these ever-changing phenomena. Through her unique blend of artistic and analytical lens, she embarked on a mission to infuse purpose and meaning into her art by researching and documenting stories to raise awareness of important issues and highlight inspiring stories.

Sterling continues her education and development in the world of art through various courses, recently receiving her certificate in Art as a Global Business through Sotheby’s Institute of Art.