"I observe people’s behaviour with curiosity": meet the people-watching illustrator Łukasz Golędzinowski

Łukasz Golędzinowski is a Warsaw-based illustrator who depicts daily encounters through his vibrant images. “My illustrations show scenes of local life. The main goal of my works is to make people smile and to provoke a reflection. Everyone has their own interpretations so it’s not for me to say much more,” the artist tells It’s Nice That. His work exposes a beautifully optimistic attitude towards human relationships, materialised through the bold colours and fluid shapes in his illustrations of common people. 


Łukasz is a people-watcher, making note of the different demeanours and appearances he comes across. “I observe people’s behaviour with curiosity: their style, the writing on their clothes, the textures. I take pictures on my phone and use the internet as a source of inspiration,” Łukasz explains. His illustrations are personality studies of father-son bonds and couple dynamics. Details are sparse, but Łukasz includes features like Nike ticks and painted nails to give the viewer an insight into who these people are. 


“I like when illustrations show movement so I try to exaggerate these situations,” Łukasz says. The figures’ elastic bodies and fluent forms evoke an atmosphere of carefree positivity. His illustration of a man lying on his couch with a dog on his stomach becomes animated through the perfectly curved lines that unite the man and his dog like two pieces of a puzzle. Similar is his illustration of three generations – grandad, dad and grandson – whose square faces stack together and morph into one large rectangular shape. Even illustrations with little movement are brought to life by the characters’ interactions. 

Currently working as an art director for an advertising agency, Łukasz hopes to turn his personal projects into a full-time job: “I would like to start experimenting more with textures and forms. I feel a close bond with painting too, so I’d like to give myself some time to pursue that as well.”