NATALIA BAGNIEWSKA used to work in the magazine world before jumping ship to become a freelance creative. Niki Browes finds out how she got there
SINCE, THE LATE 1800S, Poland has placed an unparalleled amount of attention on the poster medium, as it played a special part in public communication. The movement, which represents fine art more than global commercial consumerism, was booming after the death of Stalin in 1953 up until the end of communism in Poland in 1989 – and still is today.
It was a scene that had a huge impression on Polish native Natalia Bagniewska whilst growing up. Along with Picasso and Matisse, it has been an undeniable influence on her work today.
After a stint in London, her boyfriend (now husband) felt ready for an environment that felt calmer and more accessible than the city. Copenhagen was the perfect fit. Whilst there, Natalia worked for a graphic design studio. Along with her prior knowledge of commissioning designers and illustrators, it cemented her desire to retrain. For a long time, she had been eying up the prestigious Shillington School of Graphic Design in London but didn’t have the confidence to apply. Her time in Copenhagen gave her the headspace to go for it.
It allowed her to open her creative mind and gave her the confidence to design, illustrate and now paint – on her own terms.
nataliabagniewska.com, artforcharitycollective.com ▸
I’ve been garnering influences and references my whole life.
Growing up, I always really liked art, film and books, which helped train my eye. I’ve always been interested in colour, texture and organic work; the minimal or realistic thing isn’t for me, which is probably pretty apparent.
I’ve always known what I like and have trusted my own style and instincts when it came to art, but I never knew how to channel it.
When I started drawing seriously, I decided to listen to those instincts and just draw what I love, which is anything colourful, playful and fun. I tend to find that the less I think about it and really draw for pleasure rather than for business, the more it resonates with people.
I get a lot of inspiration from typography, especially handwritten and handmade type.
I love looking at menus and old posters where so many of the words are handwritten. I get a lot of inspiration from ‘old’ things, including movies, posters and photography. I also love the French style, i
