World-Renowned Artist Inspires the Stronger Than Ever Giclée Series

St. Louis, Missouri – DEAF Inc. continues to celebrate the lasting impact of Stronger Than Ever, a commissioned giclée series that powerfully highlights the richness, resilience, and unity of Deaf culture.

Originally commissioned in 2012, the series was created by world-renowned sports painter Rick Rush. Known primarily for his iconic sports artwork, Rush stepped outside his comfort zone to take on a deeply meaningful project: visually capturing the mission of DEAF Inc. and the spirit of Deaf communities across the nation.

Partnering closely with DEAF Inc.’s leadership team and engaging with numerous stakeholders within the Deaf community, Rush immersed himself in learning about Deaf culture, communication access, and the lived experiences of Deaf individuals. The result is a dynamic collage that reflects multiple perspectives within the community—celebrating identity, resilience, and progress. Through this experience, Rush shared that today’s Deaf community is truly Stronger Than Ever, thanks in large part to organizations like DEAF Inc. that work daily to break down communication barriers.

To complement the artwork, DEAF Inc. launched a dedicated webpage featuring comprehensive interviews with Rush, in which he explains the hidden symbolism in the painting and reflects on his journey throughout the project. The interviews were intentionally produced with sign language interpretation, spoken language, and subtitles to ensure full accessibility for all audiences.

In an effort to share this powerful message nationwide, DEAF Inc. produced five official giclées of Stronger Than Ever, placing them at significant institutions across the country:

• DEAF Inc. headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri

• Gallaudet University (Chapel Hall), Washington, D.C.

• National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), Rochester, New York

• Alabama School for the Deaf, Talladega, Alabama

• California School for the Deaf - Riverside, Southern California

Each location represents a pillar of Deaf education, history, and empowerment—ensuring the message of unity and strength continues to inspire future generations.

About DEAF Inc.

Based in St. Louis, Missouri, DEAF Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded by Deaf individuals with a mission to empower, raise awareness, and build a sustainable foundation of communication and equal access between Deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind, and hearing communities. This purpose is accomplished through a meaningful unity of community outreach, training, education, advocacy, media, visual arts, interpreting, and captioning services. 

About Rick Rush

Rick Rush first gained national recognition when his tennis illustrations were featured in The New Yorker. Following the success of his publication Tennis: First Set, he co-founded Rush Galleries with his brother Don. His artwork is displayed in prestigious venues, including the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. In 2011, he was named Sport Artist of the Year by the United States Sports Academy.

To learn more about Stronger Than Ever and the story behind the masterpiece, visit www.deafinc.org/rush