First illustrations opened a door for him to the world of creative jobs. For his first employer, more important than portfolio was the art and aesthetic sense. His belief in him became the opportunity to start employment as a graphic designer. He worked with campaigns for the biggest global brands on the European market. He achieved the Art Director position, then working in diverse agencies and graphic studios. At the same time he worked on his own client base, where he could fully fulfill his career potential. He transformed gained experience into an individual path of career. Unexpectedly and without calculations he quits his safe job, to develop under his own name as freelance illustrator. New series of illustrations were referring to the same style, as the one which he created before starting his creative career. The illustrations got positive feedback and quickly became used in public space, advertisement campaigns, magazines and cultural events. Meantime, from passion to making clothes and street fashion – he opened his own clothing brand, which quickly became the best debuting clothing brand on the polish market. This was a refreshing break from illustration projects realized everyday.
He never let himself close in the framework of life, private matters or career. He takes off the labels of being illustrator, designer and traveler. He values privacy and being on the side, living in his own world, which might be hard to keep up for others. Far away from fakeness and forced pats on the backs. Assholy. He loves to turn his life around in the least expected moments. Assholy, who jumps on the verge of emotions. From 2014 he visited over a dozen countries and hundreds of cities. Especially cities, despite a huge love for nature. The cities, with all their disadvantages and advantages, are the most important stops on his journeys. In 2020 he left his studio located in Warsaw to realize his dreams and enjoy life among the palmtrees. He has lived and worked in Bali, Barcelona and Zanzibar since.
Traveling started to shape me and helped to open for changes. It also had an impact on my creative work. I am in the search of new paths, which in some moments might be difficult, but at the same time is effective – and I’m not afraid of sweat. My personal search is backed up with my own routines and experience. These oppositions are like spices, which are giving the flavor to the whole. It’s very rare for something to be only black and white. This is why both in my creative work and everyday life, the colors appear often.
He’s sourcing from modern media and techniques, however as a person praising classic – he likes to use traditional creative methods. The most important thing for him is the look out for emotions and content. With time, the expression started forming into different shapes than only visuals. He discovered more talents inside of him, something more than creating pretty pictures.
It was still fun for him to draw, paint or lino cut – that’s basic. In fact I pick the tools depending on my mood, humor or the content I want to share. Sometimes it doesn’t matter to me. I benefit from novelty, development and technology tools. They don’t take much space, which is a key as I am in constant travel for a decade. Still, for me the real brush has a completely different feeling than the synthetic one.
He follows his discipline and routines – sometimes overdoing it. Settled, often to long lists with tasks and projects – requires organization, effectiveness care, smart time management and self-development in various paths. On top of that, he looks for a balance by taking care of himself and the loved ones. Finding time for pleasure and fulfillment of other needs. With different results, when the need of creating is taking over.
He used to share his experience with students – in the role of the lecturer. In fact he finished two different uni courses – design, where he could draw and get ready for creative career as well as political consulting – from the interest to geopolitics. He studied full time and over the weekends, at the same time working in two different jobs – as a beginner designer and journalist. What’s interesting – before submitting his final work at the design course, he heard that his work ‘it’s way too good for this uni and it’s not going to be understood”. He decided he doesn’t want to have the title from the university with this approach. Besides the finished project, in the end he didn’t submit his final work – as a sign of protest. Two years later he met his old supervisor at another university. The lecturer was quite shocked, when he realized that they both worked at the same university now – as lecturers.
At this point in my life I was overworked, sick and literally pale everyday. From this time, hard work is my standard. During the years it changed its form – in more thoughtful processes. It is an important part of my life as it connects to my determination. I also learned that the one, perfect way to achieve goals, does not exist. I like to come across, leave the settled patterns and work against world rules. As a matter of principle. Possibly because I came from a place where the fight for survival is in your blood since childhood.
In the end – according to the values he manifests with every fiber of his being – a bit about the pleasure. In all of these emotions, sharing one’s own values with others, hardship and happiness – the whole point is: “to be freaking good’.
The best pleasures are the simple ones. Sunrises, taking all you can from being in exceptional places, living in the moment, having no expectations. Moments where peace blends with madness. When filtered coffee, fresh coconut or a handful of unknown species satisfies your taste buds. The thrill of the unknown, when getting lost in the streets in the new discovered town. Or meditation among nature with the noise of the ocean and waterfalls nearby. In the company of trustfully looking animals. Loneliness is beautiful, charming and pleasant as well as the time spent with people. The ones who are close to me and those who I met during my journey. Contradictions are beautiful, like the path to their discovery and experiencing. My life is beautiful and pleasant, because that’s how I made it up. I‘m following my idea of life and I’m constantly fighting about it. And that brings me pleasure too. Despite it’s hard, salty from sweat and wet from tears. I’m covering it with my branding in the form of shiny eyes and a wide smile. I can develop this complicated process thanks to love, serenity, knowledge and inspiration flowing from my wife.
Exhibitions
“Zacni Przyjaciele”, 2022, Galeria Zacnie / “Cover Awards”, 2021, Rondo Sztuki, Katowice / “NeonArt”, 2019, Centrum Spotkania Kultur, Lublin – Group Exhibition / “20/2020”, 2019, Galeria Zacnie, Poznań – Group Exhibition / “Kontakt”, 2019, Ulica Elekrtyków, Gdańsk – Solo Show / “Everything is OK”, 2019, Tandem, Warsaw – Solo Show / “After Hours”, 2019, Wilcza 13, Warsaw – Group Exhibition / “Swords Warsaw”, 2019, Foodoo, Warsaw – Group Exhibition / “Bez przekazu”, 2019, Warmut, Warsaw – Group Exhibition / 30/30, 2019, Stary Browar, Poznań / “Bez przekazu”, 2019, Ośrodek Kultury i Sztuki im. Themersonów, Płock – Group Exhibition / “O Tutaj”, 2018, Łódź Design Festival, Łódź – Group Exhibition / “Most”, 2017, Stary Browar, Poznań – Group Exhibition / “Zacny Czwartek”, 2017, Galeria Zacnie, Poznań – Group Exhibition / “Shit Happens”, 2016, Galeria Zacnie, Poznań – Solo Show