Kotynski

Kotynski

(He/Him) • Warsaw, Poland

Biography Interview

Kotynski is an award-winning Polish illustrator who lives and works in Warsaw. He began his career in video games, film, and advertising, as an art director. His strongly conceptual, signature style of illustration relies upon a whimsical, fantasy-driven world of characters and their exploits. Kotynski is fascinated by the Polish Poster School and American conceptual illustrations which are the primary influences in his work.
His work can be seen internationally in advertising campaigns, magazines, newspapers, and on posters.

Selected clients


The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Newsweek, Mother Jones, Men’s Health, L’Express, Mastercard, Netflix, Electronic Arts

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Sectors


Press, Advertising, Computer Games

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Awards


  • 3×3 International Illustration Annual No.19
  • American Illustration 41
  • Communication Arts Design Annual 62
  • Applied Arts 2021 Photography/Illustration and Design Annual
  • Hiii Illustration 2020
  • 3×3 International Illustration Annual No.18
  • 3×3 International Illustration Annual No.17
  • American Illustration 39
  • American Illustration 38
  • 3×3 International Illustration Annual No.16

Kotynski in the Spotlight


Kotynski

Your pronouns
He/him

How do you define your identity?
Do you identify with (or advocate for) any marginalized communities?

Where is home?
Where my family and my friends are

Describe your illustration style in one sentence
Conceptual. Always looking for neat visual metaphors.

What lights your soul on fire?
Ideation process

What themes do you enjoy exploring in your illustrations?
Human condition, feelings and relationships, science, nature, world problems and timeless concepts

What techniques do you use?
Digital drawing and painting

How much of yourself and your own story can we see in your work?
Every illustration has piece of my experience

What do you want to be known for?
Being a good guy

Which projects excite you most?
The projects that I need to dig deep in myself to find a concept/solution.

Where, when and how do you best create?
In my studio. Having plenty of free time and being fresh and well rested.

How has your style evolved since you started?
I think my metaphors have tightened.

What do you find most challenging in your practice or in the illustration industry?
As for the practice – to have enough time to explore different possibilities and experiment. As for me and the industry – to maintain work-life balance.

How as being an illustrator changed your life?
I am more and more a freethinker. Always looking under the surface of things.

Name a tool you can’t live without!
Photoshop

Tell us about a project you worked on that was meaningful to you as an artist.
Lately – my ‚Rock_Scissors’ poster created just after invasion on Ukraine. It was my pure reaction to what was happening. The poster has helped gaining funds to help Ukrainians (sold as posters, t-shirts. prints, stickers, art books, etc.) and was part of manifestation against the Russian aggression (exhibitions in Poland, Portugal, Japan + many press mentions, in particular Ukrainian edition of Vogue).

What influences or inspires your art?
Everyday life and past experiences. Desire to surprise myself in ideation process.

What would you tell your younger self?
Stay positive. No matter what – panta rhei. What feels impossible or cruel at some point can turn into something positive in the end. It’s an adventure after all.

Illustrating the future

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