Meet Eric Stefanski of www.ericstefanski.com in Bridgeport

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Eric Stefanski.

Eric, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m originally from Chicago, I graduated from the DePaul Business School in 2010 but shortly after I started taking classes at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. That experience was really important because I met a large group of artists, I became more disciplined in my studio practice and it exposed me to a more contemporary conversation about painting. That led to The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston were I received my MFA in 2015. I studied with some great artists there and experimented with different materials, techniques and approaches to making work. A little over a year ago I moved back to Chicago, set up a studio and have been teaching art at a local college since.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s been tough for all the same reasons that every artists faces; creating a healthy balance between your studio and personal life, finding ways to keep the studio financially solvent, building a community with like minded people, etc.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the www.ericstefanski.com story. Tell us more about the business.
My work navigates between painting and sculpture. It’s a reflection on the failure, humor, and sincerity that comes with being an artist. It’s the reach for “artistic greatness” but continuously coming up short and falling on your face that’s a recurring theme. There are references to art history, pop culture, sports, labor and my own personal history in the work.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Lots of luck!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ericstefanski.com
• Email: ericstefanski@gmail.com
• Instagram: ericstefanski

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