Eric Stefanski

Eric Stefanski (b. 1987) lives and works in Chicago, IL, where he is from originally. His work is simultaneously polemic and didactic; while pointing outwards to art history and contemporary culture, it also points inward to his personal experiences. His works distill this duality into both snarky and overtly romantic phrases, iterations of which can be seen repeated throughout his practice. A series of dialogues between the artist, the canvas, and the viewer, Eric’s pieces weave together feelings of failure and success with both longing and humor. 

Eric draws inspiration from the Japanese conceptual artist On Kawara, who uses the daily act of making artwork as a means of proving his existence. He is mesmerized by the very simple manner that On Kawara exposes his existence into the world with a simple date on a canvas -- symbolizing his sheer ability to breath on a single day. The feelings of “I want to Exist,” “I am here, '' and “I want to be important” are extracted from Eric’s work in a very literal form: straight to the canvas. Ultimately, his paintings evoke the absurdity that is inherent in the pursuit of love and greatness. Eric studied at Depaul University and at the School of Art Institute of Chicago, after which he received his MFA from the school at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. His work has been featured in solo exhibitions nationally and group exhibitions internationally.