Fumetti-Inspired Fashion Illustration with Irina Kudlinskaya

March 20, 2025

Irina Kudlinskaya shares her journey in the world of fashion portraiture and what it means to be recognised among the Top 10 of the IFIW 2025 Top 100 Fashion Portraits Prize. Her captivating work, which showcases a refined balance of traditional techniques and contemporary influences, has positioned her as a standout talent in the field.

Upon learning that her work had been selected for the Top 10, Kudlinskaya experienced a mix of excitement and appreciation. “I felt happy and grateful, keeping in mind that the level of participants in FIDA contests is generally very high,” she shares. “This time, too, many of the artworks selected for the TOP 100 impressed me a lot.”

Though this is her first time ranking in the Top 10, she is no stranger to accolades - her first participation in a FIDA competition was in 2023 when she was shortlisted for the 7th FIDA Awards.

When talking about what made her enter the IFIW Prize she explains, “the TOP 100 Fashion Portraits Prize particularly interested me, as portraiture is one of my main artistic focuses,” she explains.

While illustration is not her primary occupation, Kudlinskaya dedicates her remaining time and effort to refining her craft. “Though limited by the time available outside of work, it is much more than just a pastime, requiring both discipline and dedication,” she says.

A deep appreciation for Art Nouveau informs Kudlinskaya’s stylistic choices. She draws inspiration from artists like Beardsley, Toulouse-Lautrec, Klimt, Bakst, and Somov, as well as from photographers such as Helmut Newton and Deborah Turbeville. Fashion itself remains a key influence, as well as other art forms, “I am particularly fascinated by the incorporation of Symbolist art into fashion (Schiaparelli) and the emphasis on craftsmanship (such as in Dior’s designs),” she notes.

Her creative process merges traditional and digital techniques. “Two of my three submitted works are based on ink drawings on paper, which I then digitally enhanced,” she explains. She also experimented with Italian fumetti-inspired elements and included a copperplate ink drawing, a medium she finds especially rewarding.

As she continues her artistic journey, Kudlinskaya remains focused on growth and new opportunities. “I plan to continue exploring new techniques and refining my skills while working on self-publishing projects and remaining open to collaborations,” she tells FIDA. With her dedication and evolving style, she is undoubtedly a talent to watch in the world of fashion illustration.