Paintings
71 works
Eric Stefanski Thirsty For Sale
Eric Stefanski
Thirsty, 2023
Charcoal on heavyweight paper
11 x 14 in 27.9 x 35.5 cm
Edition
Unique
About this work
Eric Stefanski's "Thirsty" presents a departure in medium while maintaining the artist's signature exploration of language as emotional vessel. Rendered in charcoal on heavyweight paper, the work captures the single word with an immediacy that feels almost confessional, the dry medium dragging across the tooth of the paper to create variations in density and texture that speak to longing itself. The letters emerge with a rawness distinct from Stefanski's acrylic paintings, the charcoal's inherent fragility mirroring the vulnerability embedded in the word's meaning—a wanting, a need, a state of lack that reverberates beyond the physical. The intimate scale of eleven by fourteen inches draws viewers into close proximity, demanding a personal encounter rather than commanding distance. Stefanski treats typography not as neutral communication but as carrier of accumulated feeling, and here the chosen word operates on multiple registers: the literal body craving water, the colloquial yearning for attention or validation, the deeper human condition of perpetual incompleteness. The charcoal application shows evidence of the hand, of pressure and release, building the word through gesture rather than precision. Within Stefanski's broader practice, "Thirsty" demonstrates how shifting materials can unlock new dimensions of familiar territory. Where his acrylic works often carry saturated presence, this piece breathes differently, its monochromatic restraint amplifying the emotional weight of a single utterance stripped bare. For inquiries regarding acquisition of this work, please contact Guy Hepner gallery in New York.
Price on Application
Edition & Provenance
- Year
- 2023
- Medium
- Charcoal on heavyweight paper
- Edition
- Unique
More from this series
More series by Eric Stefanski
About the Works on Paper Series
Eric Stefanski's Works on Paper series showcases a compelling collection of introspective and emotionally raw pieces that capture the artist's distinctive voice. Through mixed media and drawing techniques, Stefanski explores themes of self-reflection, desire, and the mundane moments that define human experience. Titles such as I Love Myself I Hate Myself and Thirsty reveal the series' unflinching examination of internal contradiction and longing, while works like Grocery List and Show's Over ground these psychological investigations in everyday observation.
This series represents a significant body of work that demonstrates Stefanski's ability to translate complex emotional states into visually engaging compositions. The accessibility of the works on paper format, combined with their conceptual depth, has made this collection increasingly sought after by collectors interested in contemporary figurative and conceptual practice.
These pieces remain vital acquisitions for those building thoughtful contemporary collections. Several works from the series are available for purchase, and additional pieces may be acquired through direct inquiry.
About Eric Stefanski
Eric Stefanski is a Chicago based artist known for large scale abstract paintings that incorporate bold, handwritten text. He studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and earned his MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in 2015.
Stefanski's work merges expressive mark making with direct, often humorous or self-deprecating phrases, using language as a way into larger themes around vulnerability, failure, and the pressures of maintaining a creative practice. His large-scale canvases favor vibrant color and bold lettering, with text functioning less as slogan and more as fragments of internal dialogue, blending humor with genuine emotional weight. Through this approach, Stefanski examines what it means to sustain a life as a working artist, treating uncertainty and contradiction as part of the process rather than something to resolve.
His work has been shown extensively in Chicago and Boston, along with solo exhibitions in cities including Tokyo and Madrid, and has continued to expand into galleries and institutions internationally.
He continues to live and work in Chicago.
Guy Hepner works with collectors seeking Eric Stefanski's bold, text-driven abstract paintings. Contact us to discuss available inventory or to inquire about upcoming releases.