Piotr Kowalczyk illustration

28/03/2026

March is almost over, but this issue still lingers with me.

I had the chance to create the cover illustration for the latest issue of ZNAK. The brief circled around contemporary relationships shaped by algorithms, expectations and a constant sense of too many choices. I was interested in capturing that emotional contradiction: the desire for closeness paired with a quiet, growing distance.

We’re surrounded by systems that suggest, match, optimize. And yet, the emotional landscape feels more fragmented than ever. I wanted the image to sit somewhere in that space, slightly familiar, slightly unsettling, like a place you recognize but don’t fully understand anymore.

Inside, you’ll find:
– on what Hotel Paradise teaches us about love
– : “I would still like to travel to space”
– another report from the “Świat w dwugłosie” series by
– a story about Wanda Chełmońska, an artist you won’t see in major museums
– Marcin Podolec on searching for inspiration through comics
– columns by and , plus film recommendations by

If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s still worth a look before March slips away.

visualstorytelling

14/03/2026

Cover illustration for the March issue of Znak magazine.

The issue looks at modern relationships, dating apps, and the growing tension between connection and loneliness. The cover illustration is a small metaphor for something that feels increasingly common today: searching for closeness in places that often reflect us back to ourselves.

A moment where affection, desire, and solitude quietly overlap.

Thank you to for the collaboration.

02/05/2025

The May issue of magazine explores the theme “Longing for offline” - a longing for real conversations, spontaneous encounters, and a world less connected to the network.

Will AI become our best friend? Is it still possible to truly live more offline? How do small talks influence our sense of happiness?
The illustration I created for the cover is an attempt to capture that suspended moment - between closeness and isolation, between the everyday and the digital.

Thank you to Znak for inviting me to be part of such an important topic.
I’m curious - how are you searching for your own balance between online and offline these days?

Creative direction:

26/04/2025

‘Longing for offline’ - the theme of the May issue of , featuring my cover illustration.
About loneliness in the age of constant connection, and the need for real, offline presence.
I’m grateful to be part of a project so close to what many of us experience today.

28/03/2025

15/03/2025

“I Do Not Recall Any More Sins”

Polish customs, still heavily shaped by Catholic morality, lag behind European standards, as seen in ILGA Europe reports, where Poland has led in homo- and transphobia among EU countries for five consecutive years (2020–2024). This is reflected in the Penal Code, which lacks protections against homophobic hate crimes but includes Articles 137 and 196, used to shield national symbols and religious sentiments—often weaponized by conservatives to suppress artistic and activist expression. A striking example is the 2019 “Rainbow Madonna” case, where activists were prosecuted for modifying and sharing an image of the Czestochowa icon with a rainbow halo. Despite an initial acquittal in 2021, the case was repeatedly appealed, with the final ruling in 2024 cementing the image as a symbol of resistance against the Catholic Church’s control over religious iconography in Poland.

The illustrated photography series “I Do Not Recall Any More Sins” explores Polish identity entangled in historical complexes, xenophobia, and religious censorship, where the LGBTQ+ community must fight for equal rights. The imagery intertwines national and religious symbols—hussar wings, the white eagle’s crown, a rainbow halo, and Catholic artifacts—alongside references to St. Sebastian, a Christian martyr who, through his ho******ic depictions in art history, became an unofficial q***r icon. Another tragic intersection of religion and q***rness is reflected in the last words of Italian writer Alfredo Ormando, who self-immolated in Vatican City in 1998 in protest against the Catholic Church’s exclusion of homosexual believers. His death was ignored by the Vatican, then under Pope John Paul II, reinforcing the church’s long-standing stance of silence and rejection.

Photography: Wojciech Jachyra
Illustrations: Piotr Kowalczyk
Model: Daniel Uzdowski
Lyrics: Paweł Wątroba
Post-production: Nastia Burak

10/11/2024

So excited to share my latest cover for November issue, all about New York City!
This place is a total whirlwind—loud, gritty, inspiring, and sometimes straight-up chaotic. In this issue, we’re diving deep into the real NYC: what it’s like to live on the “roof of the world,” secrets from the city’s underground, and the story of Antoni Gronowicz, a Polish legend who basically had Manhattan in his pocket!

With everything going on in the U.S. elections, there’s a lot to think and unfortunately worry about. NYC is all about resilience and hope, though, and it’s a reminder that the American Dream isn’t just one thing—it’s a dream for everyone. Here’s to creating a better future.

Art Direction:

08/11/2024

So happy to share my latest cover illustration for Znak! This issue dives into the wild and inspiring world of New York City - a place of dreams, stories, and a bit of chaos that makes it one-of-a-kind. Working on this has been an incredible experience!

With the recent U.S. election results, NYC’s energy reminds me how important it is to keep pushing for a better, more inclusive future.

07/11/2024

So excited to share my latest cover for November issue, all about New York City!
This place is a total whirlwind—loud, gritty, inspiring, and sometimes straight-up chaotic. In this issue, we’re diving deep into the real NYC: what it’s like to live on the “roof of the world,” secrets from the city’s underground, and the story of Antoni Gronowicz, a Polish legend who basically had Manhattan in his pocket!

With everything going on in the U.S. elections, there’s a lot to think and unfortunately worry about. NYC is all about resilience and hope, though, and it’s a reminder that the American Dream isn’t just one thing—it’s a dream for everyone. Here’s to creating a better future.

Art Direction:

10/08/2024

Just finished an illustration for article by Shannon Hall, on how PhD students and academics are tackling the mental-health crisis in science. It’s inspiring to see the community coming together for such an important cause.

Art direction: .design