Mateusz Kołek

• Born 1981
• Born in Knurów
• Lives and works in Cracow
• Specializes in press illustration, advert illustration and comics

“I love to tell stories, especially if they can be closed in one drawing.”

Mateusz Kołek is an artist deeply rooted in comics, both in style and in the way of depicting a story. In his work, he creates abstract worlds full of unusual characters typical of far East cultures and especially Japanese pop-culture, relating to anime and manga. It results in particular care for details and maximum suggestiveness represented by minimal means. He is also inspired by Russian illustration from the beginning of XIX century, late-Gothic painting and American press illustration. He graduated in the History of Sacred Art at the Papal Theological Academy in Cracow (now the Pope John Paul II University).

He works as a free-lancer for Polish publications including “Przekrój”, “Wprost”, “Newsweek Polska”, “Gazeta Wyborcza”, “Wysokie Obcasy”, “Duży Format” and “Znak”, as well as contributing to the British “Prime” and the American “ESPN Magazine”. He also paints murals and posters and creates designs for textile companies and sports equipment, as well as a comic book for the “Piekielne Wizje” anthology based on Graham Masterton’s short stories.

Mateusz Kołek Gallery

More information about the artist: mateuszkolek.com