Mundane Moments By Iga Kosicka

Iga Kosicka is a Polish illustrator and art historian based in Copenhagen. Blending her background in art history and graphic design, she creates work that bridges the real and the imagined, often inspired by classical still lifes and antique forms. Using watercolours, gouache, and coloured pencils, she captures quiet, nostalgic moments with vivid colour and soft texture. Her playful yet thoughtful style brings a gentle pause to the fast pace of modern life.

Tell us about yourself and how you got started with art.

My name is Iga Kosicka, and I am an illustrator and graphic designer based in Copenhagen. I have a background in art history and graphic design, which influences my approach to visual storytelling.

I’ve always been drawn to art and loved to draw and paint from a very young age. I graduated from an artistic high school and later decided to study art history to deepen my understanding of the foundations and origins of art. After earning my MA diploma, I pursued postgraduate studies in graphic design to build a more practical foundation for my career and expand my skill set. With this combination of artistic knowledge and technical skills, I felt I had all the necessary tools to tell my artistic story.

Who are your biggest artistic influences?

I’ve been deeply inspired by the fleetingness and light in Matisse’s compositions, the bold shapes and colors in David Hockney’s work, and the statistic still lifes and female silhouettes in Pierre Boncompain’s paintings. To name only a few.

How has your artistic style evolved over the years?

My artistic style has definitely evolved over the years, especially as I’ve experimented with different techniques and themes. However, there’s still a clear thread that connects my earlier work to what I create now and you’d recognize it as mine. Lately, I’ve become more focused on the poetic narrative, exploring deeper meanings and emotional layers. That said, my love for color remains constant. No matter how much my approach shifts, color is something I’ll always be drawn to.

Tell us a little bit about your latest collection.

The collection I’ve created for Postery showcases a variety of my favorite subjects — from still lifes to animals and people, which are what I love to illustrate the most. Each piece shares a soft, pastel calmness that ties the collection together. I’m really happy with this selection and how it reflects the overall tone of my work.

What is the biggest challenge of being an artist?

One of the biggest challenges of being an artist is regularly reminding yourself why you do it in the first place. It’s easy to lose sight of that in the day-to-day. Another challenge is continuously seeking out new artistic goals and pushing your boundaries — otherwise, it’s easy to get stuck in a creative rut.

How do you manage a work-life balance as an artist?

Right now, I have to follow a structured routine. As a caregiver for my child, our schedule is quite intense, so sometimes I have to wait several days before I can finally get to my studio and start painting a scene that has been in my mind for a while. It’s something I’ve had to adjust to. To keep my ideas fresh, I photograph things I want to illustrate in the future and create raw sketches—often very rough, almost unreadable to anyone but me. This process helps me stay connected to my work, even when I can’t paint right away.

Where do you live/reside? Does your residential place have an impact on your art?

I live in Copenhagen, a compact and charming city where you can bike across town in about an hour. It truly feels like home to me, and its lifestyle has definitely influenced my art. As a tribute, I even wrote and illustrated a book about Copenhagen’s parks. However, my work isn’t centered on depicting specific locations. Instead, I focus on capturing the scenes, emotions, and atmosphere that I experience in those places. So while my residential place inspires me, it’s more about the feeling it evokes than its physical details.

Would you say you are an introvert or an extrovert?

I’m definitely an introvert. I enjoy being around people and value connection, but I have clear boundaries that help me protect my energy. I need time alone to recharge and reflect and in those quiet moments I feel most creative. That’s why I enjoy working the way I do; sitting alone for hours in my studio doesn’t bother me at all — in fact, it feels natural and fulfilling.

How do you see your prints in an interior setting?

I love seeing my work in different interior settings — it truly makes me proud. There's something incredibly special about knowing that people around the world have chosen to display my prints in their homes. It means a lot that they've invited my art into their personal spaces and committed to living with it, seeing it every day.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about art?

The best advice I’ve ever received about art is not to focus on the money. Some pieces will sell, others won’t — but nothing brings more lasting happiness than staying true to yourself through your work. Chasing trends doesn’t lead to fulfillment. If it’s meant to be, it will be.

Thank you Iga!