About me
Hi there! I’m Stefany Foigel, also known as baksterly, an illustrator and artist working across 2D illustration, canvas painting, and ceramics. My creative space is all about dreamlike imagery, muted palettes, and surreal narratives. I build quiet, atmospheric worlds that blend flora, human forms, and fragments of memory — where every detail carries a hidden meaning, waiting to be discovered upon a closer look.
For me, being an illustrator means being a storyteller. Every image is a chance to develop an idea, build an immersive universe, and invite people to step inside. My goal is to find that unique visual voice — a blend of tactile textures and poetic symbolism — that makes a project truly stand out.
MY EXPERTISE → 2D illustration & visual storytelling → Character and world design → Comics & sequential illustration → Illustrated books & editorial projects → Creative concepts & storytelling → Canvas art & spatial installations → Ceramics & tactile art objects
Pastel series
Tale of the Northern Desert
The Concept:
This series is a visual exploration of a surreal, liminal space — a «northern desert» that exists somewhere between memory and a dream. It is not a barren wasteland, but a quiet, introspective landscape where the familiar rules of time and gravity dissolve. The series invites the viewer to step into a slow, meditative narrative where objects and nature become symbols.
In these works, the still life escapes the confines of the table. The horizon line merges with the edges of the vessels. A glass carafe transforms into a translucent body holding a distant landscape inside, while the distant boats and a lone figure walking on the hills suggest a journey that happens within the mind rather than in physical space.
Because of their muted, calming tones and the sense of depth they create, the works from this series are perfectly suited for spaces that require an atmosphere of quiet focus and contemplation.Hospitality: Ideal for the walls of a slow-food cafe, a boutique wine bar, or a cozy library, where they can serve as visual anchors that encourage guests to linger longer.Publishing: The narrative nature of the series lends itself beautifully to illustrated books, poetry collections, or album covers that deal with themes of travel, dreams, and solitude.
Flower power
Botanical Microcosm
The Concept:
This series is a bold exploration of flora viewed through a macro lens, bordering on the surreal. By placing these intricate botanical forms against a stark, void-like black background, the artist isolates them from their natural context, turning them into glowing, otherworldly specimens. It is a study of the hidden mechanics of nature — the reproductive organs, the layered petals, and the raw, pulsating energy of plant life.
The Anatomy of a Flower
The artist dissects the flower not with a scalpel, but with pigment. We see the intimate, almost visceral details of the stamen and pistil, rendered in vivid, toxic greens and deep purples. The flowers are not delicate; they are powerful, fleshy, and intensely alive. They look like cross-sections of alien plants or biological diagrams from a dream.
Due to their high contrast and graphic nature, these works are incredibly versatile and act as powerful focal points.Commercial Spaces: Perfect for modern, minimalist interiors that need a pop of color and energy. They would look stunning in a contemporary cafe, a cocktail bar, or a fashion boutique. The black background makes them blend seamlessly into dark walls or stand out dramatically against stark white ones.Publishing & Editorial: This series is highly suitable for book covers (especially sci-fi, fantasy, or modern poetry), magazine editorials, or as vibrant prints for merchandise.
Ceramics
Series Overview: Tactile Narratives
The Concept:
This ceramic series is a physical extension of my illustration practice. It explores the dialogue between texture, form, and the ritual of everyday objects. These are not just functional vessels; they are small, intimate canvases where the rough, organic touch of clay meets the delicate, graphic precision of ink.
Visual Language & Symbolism
The Duality of Texture
The works are built on a striking contrast. The lower section features dark, glazed clay, deeply carved with swirling, chaotic lines that resemble dried roots, cracked earth, or dried leaves. The upper section is matte, pale, and smooth — a quiet, blank page. This creates a sense of geological layering, as if the piece was excavated from the earth and partially cleaned.
These ceramic pieces perfectly bridge the gap between fine art and functional design, making them highly valuable for specific commercial spaces.Hospitality: Ideal for artisanal coffee shops, boutique hotels, or slow-food restaurants that want to offer guests a truly unique, signature experience. Using these cups for serving coffee or tea elevates the brand’s perceived value and creates a strong, memorable aesthetic.Retail: Perfect as high-end, collectible homeware or art objects for design enthusiasts who appreciate functional art. They can also be displayed as sculptural objects in a gallery or bookshelf setting.
Canvas type
Series Overview: The Anatomy of Memory
The Concept
This series is a deeply intimate exploration of the human body as a landscape of memory, vulnerability, and quiet surrealism. By blending fragments of anatomy, delicate flora, and textural patterns, the artist creates dreamlike spaces where the physical body and the natural world merge. It is a visual meditation on touch, the passage of time, and the hidden narratives we carry within our own skin.
Visual Language & Symbolism
- The Surreal Embrace In the first piece, the rules of anatomy dissolve. Hands intertwine, holding a tiny, fragile deer and a surreal flower that seems to bloom from the dark mass of hair. A hand at the bottom, holding scissors, adds a layer of tension. It speaks of care, fragility, and the act of cutting or shaping one’s own reality. The text on the left (rendered in Braille-like dots) acts as a silent, tactile poem, emphasizing the sense of touch over sight.2. The Ephemeral Line The second piece is a study in fragility and emergence. Using delicate blue and pastel graphite lines on raw canvas, the figure appears almost ghost-like, fading into the background. It is a «work in progress» of the soul — a portrait that exists in the liminal space between memory and the present moment, barely holding its form together.
This series is highly evocative and works best in spaces that require a sense of intimacy, depth, and quiet contemplation.Hospitality & Cultural Spaces: Perfect for the interior of a boutique hotel, a contemporary art gallery, or an intimate wine bar. The paintings act as conversation starters and create a deeply atmospheric, slightly mysterious mood.Publishing (Book Covers): The surreal, poetic nature of these works makes them ideal for contemporary fiction, poetry collections, or psychological dramas. The first piece, with its embedded text, is almost a ready-made cover design.Private Collectors: These are highly personal pieces that resonate with collectors looking for artwork that explores the human condition, vulnerability, and the intersection of nature and the self.
