On the occasion of TEFAF New York’s 2025 edition, Skarstedt is thrilled to present a suite of seven new paintings by American artist Eric Fischl. This latest body of work marks a return to some of Fischl’s most enduring themes: bodies in proximity, emotional distance, and the quiet friction of uncertain relationships, all set against the backdrop of beaches and shallow water. Each painting captures a pair of figures—couples, companions, or possibly strangers—suspended in moments of charged stillness. The presence of water is both literal and symbolic, a recurring element in Fischl’s work that suggests reflection, desire, and the shifting terrain of interpersonal connection.
These compositions also reflect Fischl’s ongoing interest in revisiting and recontextualizing his own archive. Pulling characters from earlier series like My Old Neighborhood (2021), and Complications from an Already Unfulfilled Life (2018-2019), the figures who populate Fischl’s fragmented narratives are first sourced from personal photography and found internet photography alike. Dogs, too, emerge throughout the works—not merely as pets, but as ambiguous participants that complicate the already fragile social scenes. Their presence adds an air of watchfulness or instinctual intuition, heightening the emotional texture of each scene. While the psychological charge of the paintings is unmistakable, there is also a sense of pleasure in their making. Fischl’s recent approach feels relaxed and confident, leaning into a language he knows intimately. These are works that do not resolve, but rather linger, inviting the viewer to participate in their unanswered questions.
