Eric Friedensohn

Eric Friedensohn, better known as “Efdot,” is a New York-based muralist, artist and illustrator who describes his work as “art for optimists.” Efdot specializes in large-scale murals and art experiences that Hypebeast aptly described as “abstract-meets-figurative”—playful, vivid, and heavily influenced by skateboard culture.

Since founding Efdot Studio in 2012, Friedensohn has been commissioned by brands like WeWork and USA/SyFy Network to create works in Rio de Janeiro, Rockefeller Center in New York, and more. Outside of commissioned work, Efdot also produces limited-edition prints & apparel. You can check out Efdot’s latest projects on Creatively here.

What is the first creative project you remember?
Building with LEGOs and blocks in my room as a kid. 

Describe your aesthetic in three words.
Bold. Clean. Optimistic.

An Efdot mural on a rooftop football court in Monterrey, Mexico.

What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?
Tough call! All of the murals my team created at WeWork, particularly the ones painted in Latin America, are among my most fulfilling collaborations. Other than that, getting to work with Topps this year has been a dream come true. I never imagined to see my art distributed as collectible cards and printed on this large of a scale.

A 2020 collaboration with Topps to redesign iconic baseball cards.

What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?
I’d have to say The Optimist Project, which I like to call my “origin story.” This was right after I lost my apartment and almost all my belongings in an apartment fire. I learned through this project the power that my story and my art can have.

This rough sketch was one of the only things to survive an apartment fire in which all of Efdot’s possessions were destroyed. It became a symbol of hope for the artist.

Do you think creativity is something you’re born with, or something you’re taught?
I think everyone is born with some level of creative curiosity. From there, it is something that needs to be cultivated, practiced, and honed.

What’s the last dream you had?
I remember dreaming about being in a hot air balloon and I had no idea how I got there. Luckily, we made it down to land safely.

One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?
I don’t think about this very often, but I hope that people will write about my work, saying it provided a joyful escape from everyday life—that is rooted in positivity and satisfaction. With each piece I make, I always strive to encapsulate a sense of discovery that reconnects us to our child-like curiosity, and to each other.

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