The creative interview with Iga Kosicka

Iga Kosicka is a Polish illustrator based in Copenhagen. For our guide to the Danish capital, we gave her complete creative freedom. Her color palette—both vibrant and soft—her poetic take on the city, and her sharp eye for everyday moments won us over instantly.

On a bright, crisp April morning, as she was finishing the illustrations for the guide, we visited Iga in her studio. We talked with her about her creative process and her connection to the city.

 

Iga, can you introduce yourself?

I come from Poznan, in Poland. I studied graphic design and art history there, but I really started working on my own illustrations after moving to Copenhagen, when my husband got a job here. Before that, we lived in Budapest, where I worked in social media marketing. It wasn’t very fulfilling, so when we moved, I had the luxury of not rushing into anything and that gave me time to figure out what I really wanted to do. That’s how I ended up doing illustration full-time.

Today, you can find my work in different places : I sell under my own name through my webshop (where I also sell originals), and I collaborate with partners who license my prints.

How does it feel to know that your work is decorating people's interiors and accompanying their lives?

I remember walking in the evening once and seeing one of my prints through a window in someone’s apartment — that was surreal. It’s become more normal now, but when I think of all the places in the world where my work has gone, it’s still very moving. One day, I dream of someone ordering from Greenland.

I get a lot of lovely messages from people — it really keeps me going. Even during the lockdowns, people in Denmark kept ordering prints! For printing, I work with a friend in Poland, and my orders even helped her get through the pandemic.

Exhibitions are also very special to me. In the beginning of this year, I had one in Seoul. It was called Iga’s Supermarket. Even though I couldn’t attend, the feedback was amazing and it really motivated me. The show featured original illustrations and limited-edition prints, including a special Korean series inspired by food packaging from iconic local products. It was exhibited at Alltid nd organized by Current Brown Seoul.

My schedule mostly revolves around my son, who’s in kindergarten — so I work a few hours during the day. I have a home office in Valby, and I also rent a studio space nearby, where we are now. It’s convenient because I can leave my material out, not worry about cleaning up or my son getting into things. It gives me a quiet, focused space. 

 Winters here can feel isolating in Denmark, it's like the whole country goes into hibernation. So I usually come to the studio more often in spring and summer. I feel more inspired and motivated when the light returns.

How would you define your style?

In graphic design school, we were often discouraged from using handmade techniques. It was all about digital tools like Adobe Illustrator, which I never really enjoyed. So after graduating, I returned to traditional methods — painting, drawing, using real materials — and that’s when I started developing a style that felt personal and true to me. Now, I usually start with hand drawings using colored pencils, gouache, or acrylics, and sometimes I add small details digitally on the iPad.

I’d describe my work as pastel but colorful, nostalgic and yet playful. I like it when an illustration has a strong visual rhythm and engaging spots of brightness. I usually start with a color palette and I try to keep things cohesive across illustrations.

My inspiration comes from everyday life : dogs waiting for their owners on the street, a still life of objects and food on a table at home, people playing football or sun-drying after a swim, a group sitting at a café or restaurant, moments of quiet observation — people reading, watching the landscape. 

When I work with clients, they usually refer to my older works, and we build from there. When you first talked to me about the guide, I already had a lot of ideas. I was even thinking of doing a second edition of my own book on Copenhagen's parks. I liked the idea of illustrating those “typically Danish” things you start noticing after living here for a while : the hot dog from the stands in city squares, the Christiania bikes that carry groceries, kids, or pets, the elderflower and sea buckthorn you forage and turn into juice, the iconic design elements like the Verner Panton lamp and chair. For this project, I centered the palette around a grayish-blue, with warm orange-red accents.

This interview was conducted by Louise Cattarinussi,  the local contributor to the AWA guide on Copenhagen.