Artist in a variety of media, born in Huddersfield, his father having moved from the Ukraine. Stefan did a foundation course at Huddersfield Polytechnic, 1983–4; graduated with honours from Newcastle upon Tyne Polytechnic, 1984–7; and made postgraduate studies at the Slade School of Fine Art, 1991–3. In 1996–7, he gained The Paul Hamlyn Foundation Sculpture and Installation Award. Gec took part in numerous group shows in Britain and abroad, among later solo shows, projects and works being Natural History, Ukrainian Cultural & Education Centre/Winnipeg Art Gallery, Canada, 1998; Vengeance, Lux Gallery, 2001; The Outside World, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton, 2002; Untitled; Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, Longside Gallery, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, 2003; and Long Distance, Globe City, Newcastle, and The elephant’s foot, at Annely Juda Fine Art, both 2004.