Joanna Karpowicz

I’m a painter, creator of comic art and illustrator. Since 2012 I work on a painting series with Anubis.

I graduated the Faculty of Painting at the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, where I received my diploma in the studio of Prof. Leszek Misiak. I’m related to artists: Anna Karpowicz-Westner (mother), Sławomir Karpowicz (father), Katarzyna Karpowicz (sister) and Paulina Karpowicz (cousin). I live and work in Kraków / Poland.

In 2025:

I was chosen as an Ambassador Illustrator for Bologna Book Plus, the brand extension of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. It was a real pleasure to represent Book Institute Poland at the event. Also, my series with Anubis was awarded by the European Science Fiction Association in the Best Work of Art category. Real honor, cool award. Ty!

Solo Exhibitions with Major Cycles:

Anubis Meets Yokai 2, inspired by @szafasztywniary, Artemis Gallery, Kraków (2025), Relatable, BWA Galeria Sanocka, Sanok (2025), Anubis, GaleriaArt.pl, Warszawa (2024), Retro Anubis / inspired by @retrolga, Artemis Gallery, Kraków (2024), Déjà vu, Artemis Gallery, Kraków (2023), Anubis Meets Yokai, Artemis Gallery, Kraków (2022), Late Summer. Anubis in Valence,  Artemis Gallery, Kraków (2023), Valuable Papers, Artemis Gallery, Kraków (2021), Return, Artemis Gallery, Kraków (2020), The Travels of Anubis, Artemis Gallery, Kraków (2019); LA Woman, Artemis Gallery, Kraków (2017); Anubis, Raven Gallery, Kraków (2016); I Want to Believe, Zamek Cultural Center, Wrocław (2014); Anubis, My Friend, Łącznik Gallery, Kraków (2013); Means of Transportation, Cafe Szafe, Kraków (2008); and Room 666, Nova Gallery, Kraków (2003).

Selected Group Exhibitions:

In a Wide Frame. Polish Comics After the Transformation, Bunkier Sztuki (2025), Artists from Kraków: Generation 1970 – 1979, MOCAK Museum of Contemporary Art (2018); Comics Now!, National Museum in Kraków (2018); Blood: Connects and Divides, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews (2017); My Country So Beautiful, Arsenal Gallery, Poznań (2015); 4 x Karpowicz, Raven Gallery, Kraków (2014); Strange Stories, Stalowa Gallery and Meno Forma Gallery, Kaunas (2014); Comics: Urban Legends, MOCAK Museum of Contemporary Art (2011).

Artworks in institutional collections:

My sketches from the comic “Postcards from Białystok” and a promotional artwork for the movie “The Grain of Truth” (dir. Borys Lankosz) can be found in the collection of POLIN Museum of The History of Polish Jews.

A lots of my artworks and other type of presence (like a pieces of my workshop) can be found in a newly opened Centrum Komiksu i Narracji Interaktywnej in Łódź, a place devoted to the history and presence of Polish comic and gaming industry.

Comics:

I’m the author of comics executed using painting technique: Szminka [Lipstick] (script: Jerzy Szyłak, Mandragora Press, 2003), Jutro będzie futro [Dog’s Tale] (original script, Atropos Press, 2004), Pocztówki z Białegostoku [Postcards from Białystok] (original script, Ludwik Zamenhof Center, 2012), Kwaśne jabłko [Sour Apple] (script: Jerzy Szyłak, Timof Comics, 2017); the art book Anubis, (Centrala Ltd., 2017), Anastazja, Part I and II (script: Magdalena Lankosz, Kultura Gniewu, 2017, 2019).

Some of my shorter comics can be found in anthologies: KKK – 25 – Antologia. Krewni i znajomi KKKrólika [KKK – 25 – An Anthology: Family and Friends of KKKrólik] (2019) and the following magazines: Gili-Gili, Aargh!, Zeszyty Komiksowe, Cheap East; City Stories (Contur, 2013); Double Portrait: Polish Female Comic Art (Centrala, 2012); Polski Komiks Kobiecy [Polish Women’s Comics] (Timof i Cisi Wspólnicy,2012); Kompot [Compote] (Kultura Gniewu, 2007). As an illustrator I worked for Newsweek, Wysokie Obcasy, Wydawnictwo Literackie, Draft Publishing and Borys Lankosz – Polish film director.

Most recent publications

“Anubis. Thin Places”, published by Timof Comics, 2021

“Anubis. Thin Places 2”, published by Timof Comics, 2024

Artbook vol. 2 is still avaliable for sale https://sklep.timof.pl/

Interested in buying an artwork?

Check the currently avaliable artworks for sale at www.artemis.art.pl and www.galeriaart.pl.

If you are interested in comissions contact the author directly via email: jot.karpowicz@gmail.com