Grzegorz Rosiński

(b. 1941) – is a graphic artist, painter and world-famous comics artist. He drew the cult series about Thorgal.

He graduated from a visual arts secondary school in Warsaw, then studied at the graphics faculty at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw – he defended a diploma project of book illustrations under Jan Marcin Szancer. He published his first drawings in children’s books and magazines. In 1968, he made illustrations for ‘Diadem Tamary’ (Tamara’s Tiara) – the first issue of the ‘Kapitan Żbik’ (Captain Loony) series, which brought him popularity. In Relax magazine, created in 1976, as art director (a job he kept until 1977), he selected and published comics by Polish and foreign illustrators. His own work also appeared in the magazine. He illustrated the ‘Legendarna historia Polski’ (Legendary History of Poland) and ‘Pilot śmigłowca’ (Helicopter Pilot) series. He drew his first panels of Thorgal in 1977 (with a script by Jean Van Hamme). He created this legendary series about the exploits of the titular protagonist, a Star Child raised by Vikings, until 2018. His comics about Thorgal have been translated into many languages, including Arab, Korean, Turkish, Greek and English. A computer game has also been based on the series.

In the 1970s, Rosiński made ties with the Belgian comics market, publishing his drawings in Le Journal de Tintin and Spirou. His illustrations were used for the science fiction comics series Yans, he also made a famous fantasy trilogy, Szninkiel, telling the story of J’on, whom fans have compared to Tolkien’s hobbit, a reluctant messiah out to save a violent world. Rosiński is also known for his comics series ‘Fantastyczna podróż. Wyspa przypływów i inne opowieści’ (The Fantastic Voyage: Isle of Tides and Other Stories) and the Western series, as well as ‘Zemsta hrabiego Skarbka’ (The Revenge of Count Skarbek), which he created in the 2000s. An enormous amount of his work was created abroad. After Martial Law was declared, Rosiński left Poland for good, first going to Belgium, then to Switzerland, where he ultimately settled down. Apart from the comic books and strips he makes sketches, designs, pictures and book illustrations; his work often goes beyond the classic frameworks, for instance, joining comics and painting.

Grzegorz Rosiński has won numerous awards, including the Prix Saint-Michel (twice), the audience award at the Festival in Angoulême (also twice), and in 2005, the Prix Albert-Uderzo for lifetime achievement. He was also honoured with the Officer’s Cross of the Order of the Rebirth of Poland, the Gloria Artis Service to Culture Silver Medal, and the Belgian Order of Leopold II. In 2025, he received the ZaiKS award for outstanding achievement in the visual arts.