Photography is more than a hobby for Georgia Delta alumnus Frank Sly Knight (Georgia Tech ’04), founder and CEO of Artfully Rich. Considered “a blessing and a gift from God that came in the darkest hour,” he has found a way to utilize his artistic talents while honoring his mother, Dr. Deborah Sims Fulmer, who passed away from brain cancer.
Established in 2007, Artfully Rich is an online gallery where aspiring artists showcase their talents while giving back to those in need by donating 100% of their commissions to charity. By combining his passion for photography with his desire to give back, Sly has made it his mission to raise money for charities and other worthy causes.
“I credit my parents for encouraging me from an early age to be civic-minded, as well as to cultivate my creative talents,” he said. “With the support from my wife Katie and our friends and family, Artfully Rich has grown from an idea into the for-good, for-profit business it is today.”
What was to become Artfully Rich began when Dr. Fulmer was first diagnosed and Sly was still in high school. Before she passed in 2004 she encouraged him to develop his skills in photography by presenting him with one final gift, a Nikon D70. Family friend Jack Leigh, a renowned photographer from Savannah, GA, further encouraged Sly with positive reviews of his early work. Leigh is most widely known for shooting the cover photo for bestseller Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
The idea for Artfully Rich began to take shape during the summer of 2007 when travelling with a friend to Tibet to observe the culture and witness their art firsthand. Armed with hundreds of photos, it occurred to Sly that there might be a market for his work.
His hunch paid off. Sly partnered with his dad who is an avid fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and raised more than $1,500 in only two short weeks. Today Artfully Rich boasts 11 artists and supports 10 different charities, including VH1’s Save the Music Foundation, International Justice Mission as well as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Sly graduated from Georgia Tech with bachelor’s and masters degrees in electrical engineering. He now works as a research engineer for his alma mater’s Research Institute. He also gives back to Phi Delta Theta by serving as Georgia Delta’s faculty advisor and as a valued member of its Chapter Advisory Board.
About Artfully Rich
Artfully Rich is an online gallery where 100% of the artist’s commission is donated to the charity they support. With each purchase, customers can collect a high-quality, unique piece of art and play a valuable role in giving back to those in need.
