Eli Kauffman grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, but is currently based out of Providence, Rhode Island. They graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in 2022. Though primarily interested in painting, Kauffman is also known to explore printmaking, textiles, and ceramics. The work depicts interpersonal relationships, sourced through a combination of photos and film stills. The reference imagery highlights the disparity between personal experiences of friends and family, and coming of age television that Kauffman grew up on. Saturated color creates melodrama and tension, revealing emotional urgency in every action. The figures have grown to be life size, creating a physical relationship to the viewer. In some of the works, figures return the gaze of the audience, as if they are waiting to have their photo taken. Kauffman aims to convince the audience that they could step into the work and be a part of the events depicted on the canvas.