Stefan obtained national recognition as an accomplished young artist, After graduating college he established a studio in Tubac, Arizona in 1955.
In 1971 Stefan held a sold-out solo exhibition at New York City's Grand Central Art Galleries which propelled him into national fame.
[1] Stefan was enamored with the American West and with his father made a two-week trip to the Seven Dash guest ranch at Dragoon, Arizona an hour east of Tucson.
He was a winner of a Wisconsin calendar illustration contest[3] but that year he developed severe respiratory health issues which landed him in the hospital.
[10] During this period the young Stefan began public demonstrations of his ability[11] and he donated one of his paintings, "It’s a Boy", to the YMCA for installation in the lobby of their new building.
[12] The painting was produced when he was 13 and entered into the Milwaukee Journal's state-wide high school contest of 2000 entries and was reproduced in color by the paper over the May and June 1949 newspaper calendar.
[8] In February 1950 his painting "Rodeo Time" was displayed in the window of Dave Bloom and Sons, on Congress Street in downtown Tucson[14] and in June 1950, Stefan was featured in Seventeen Magazine.
[18] The exhibit was so popular it was extended and shipped to the Phoenix branch of the Bank[19] and became an annual event each year showcasing the new work of the prodigy artist.
[21] In 1951 the Chamber of Commerce organized a solo exhibition in Tucson fifteen pastel works[22][23] that then traveled to area guest ranches including Rancho del Rio, Desert Willow and El Dorado.
[27][28] His painting "Apache Smoke" a character study was exhibited as part of a group show by the Magazine Tucson at the Country Club Plaza.
"[31] In October he exhibited in the Tucson Fine Arts Association Open Show and was awarded third place for his painting Chemihuevl Basket Maker.
In the fall of 1953 Stefan was hired to paint murals on the walls of a new restaurant "Saddle and Sirloin stake house" at 2130 North Oracle Road.
Philanthropist, and western Art collector, Jack Goodman, wrote the book "Ross Stefan: An Impressionistic Painter of the Contemporary Southwest which was published in 1977.