A surreal digital artwork of a creature with a human arm and tentacles reaching into space, holding a bright glowing orb, with planets and asteroid debris in the background.

Dark fantasy and horror illustration focused on cinematic storytelling.

Black and white graphic of a stylized heart with two upward-facing arrow-like shapes in the center.
Jakub Jagoda, A young man with curly brown hair and a beard standing on the beach during sunset, looking peacefully at the ocean.

I’m Jakub Jagoda, a Polish freelance illustrator specializing in dark fantasy, horror, and cinematic digital painting. I create semi-realistic illustrations focused on characters, creatures, and supernatural worlds, with a strong emphasis on storytelling, atmosphere, and composition.

I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. My fascination with art started with dinosaur illustrations in my grandmother’s books and later grew through comics, video games, and movies. As a child, I filled boxes with drawings of superheroes, monsters, and chaotic scenes. I eventually realized that art was the path I wanted to pursue.

I became a professional artist through self-directed learning rather than formal education. During the pandemic, I spent more and more time painting and studying, using online courses, books, tutorials, and countless hours of practice to build my skills. I began sharing my work online, which eventually led to my first clients and, over time, to a career as a professional illustrator.

I’ve worked across role-playing games, tabletop games, publishing, and music, collaborating with clients including Awaken Realms, Lucky Duck Games, and EDGE Studio. My work has appeared in projects such as Arkham Horror, HELL: Legends, and Chronicles of Crime, alongside album artwork and independent projects.

In 2026, I also had the opportunity to create an official poster for Metallica’s show in Chorzów, Poland, which was a particularly meaningful project.

My work has been exhibited internationally, including in Seoul, South Korea, where I had the opportunity to present my work in person and speak about digital painting and my creative process.

My work is driven by storytelling. I’m drawn to images that feel like a single moment pulled from a much larger story. I like to create scenes that make the viewer wonder what happened before and what might happen next. Composition, lighting, atmosphere, and character acting all play an important role in creating that feeling.

My influences come from a wide range of places. Zdzisław Beksiński, Frank Frazetta, and the old masters have all had a significant impact on the way I think about painting, while cinema, literature, games, and contemporary fantasy artists continue to influence my work.

Outside of art, I enjoy staying active, gaming, reading, and spending time with the people close to me. I’m also a big fan of pizza.

I’m constantly looking for new worlds to explore and new challenges that push my work further.

Jakub Jagoda painting a landscape of a sunset with orange and yellow hues on a canvas set on an easel, with another landscape painting visible in the background.
A person sitting at a table with a tablet and a coffee cup, in front of a large screen displaying two different digital images of skulls.
A young man with curly hair and a mustache is standing on a stage at an outdoor concert, making a peace sign with his right hand and smiling. He is wearing a graphic t-shirt, black pants, and black-and-white sneakers. The stage has a large screen beh
Jakub Jagoda wearing a white hoodie, black jacket, and gray sweatpants, stands in profile in front of his digital art display. The art is called 'Charon', a skeleton figure with a red hooded cloak, holding a staff.
Jakub Jagoda at a table with rolled-up Metallica posters and a marker, in front of a yellow wall with Metallica concert posters, in a room with black walls and a black tablecloth.
A young man with curly hair and a beard, wearing a cream-colored knitted sweater, is holding a microphone and speaking. A woman with long blonde hair, wearing a patterned jacket, is standing beside him in front of a white brick wall and a large artwo
People sitting and standing in an art gallery or exhibition space, looking at artworks displayed on the walls.
People gathered at a booth with a large yellow and black Metallica sign, some are signing autographs on posters and merchandise. The booth appears to be related to Metallica, a rock band.