Selma Imrenk's Artistic Ascent

March 4, 2025

Selma Imrenk has been making waves in the world of fashion illustration, having previously won the Fida Portraits Artist of the Year in Prize in 2023, and more recently earning a spot in the Top 10 of the IFIW 2025 Fashion Portraits Prize. Her journey, marked by dedication and an unrelenting passion for art, showcases her evolution from a late-blooming artist to an emerging talent in digital and mixed-media illustration.

Selma shared her excitement with Fida, about being selected for the IFIW 2025 - International Fashion Illustration Week - Prize. “I am incredibly happy and grateful to have been a member of Fida Worldwide since late 2023,” Imrenk says. “It’s an amazing community filled with extraordinary talent - it’s just fascinating!” It was through this network that she learned about the TOP 100 Fashion Portraits Prize. “I believe you should seize every opportunity and participate in everything! It challenges you, and the feedback you get is crucial for personal growth.”

For Imrenk, the moment of recognition was overwhelming. “It’s an indescribable feeling when you get that notification - especially when you don’t expect it! I felt like a kid in a candy store, totally overjoyed!” she shares.Selma Imrenk's IFIW TOP 100 Fashion Portraits Prize - Selected for the TOP 10

This isn’t her first time entering competitions. “If I remember correctly, I started entering competitions at the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023. Since then, I’ve been trying to seize every opportunity that comes my way.” Her persistence has paid off, solidifying her place in the industry.

Interestingly, Imrenk’s path to illustration was not straightforward. “I discovered drawing and art later in life, and at first, I didn’t think much of it. But my family kept asking why I wasn’t doing more with it. Their encouragement pushed me to take action.” Initially, she pursued fashion design, believing it to be the perfect blend of drawing and sewing. However, she soon realised sewing was not one of her strengths, which led her to focus entirely on drawing and illustration. Since 2022, she has been working seriously toward her goal of becoming an artist.

Despite her success, Imrenk remains modest about her title. “I don’t really consider myself an ‘artist’ - for me, that title is very specific and reserved for certain individuals. I see myself as a fan of art, moving through this field with fascination, appreciating the diversity and beauty of creative expression.” However, she is determined to make it a full-time profession. “My goal is to develop my craft, make a name for myself, and eventually be recognised as an artist.”

Her inspirations are as eclectic as her work. “This might sound cliché, but music is a huge source of inspiration for me - everything from classical music to modern artists, from Mozart to Linkin Park,” she explains. “I also find inspiration in the past, especially the 2000s and earlier eras. I love reminiscing about those times.”

Describing her creative process, Imrenk reveals, “My process always starts with research - usually online. I sit with my iPad, scrolling endlessly until I find something that catches my eye, something I can use as inspiration. I don’t create a mood board; everything comes together intuitively. Once I have a rough sketch, I start refining the details. The process can be exhausting, and I often get frustrated when things don’t turn out the way I imagined. But after what feels like 100 hours, the final result appears.”

Having worked digitally for years, Imrenk has recently begun incorporating traditional media into her practice again. “I’ve been drawing on my iPad for a few years now, but recently, I’ve returned to paper. I enjoy mixing traditional and digital techniques. For my submission, everything was created digitally, and I experimented with a variety of tools.”

Looking ahead, Imrenk is eager to explore new frontiers in art. “Right now, I’m very interested in Virtual Reality and 3D printing. I’m experimenting and learning new techniques, but I’m still in the development and learning phase. I don’t want to limit myself to just drawing in 2D - I want to explore new things, and I want my work to have purpose.” With her passion and openness to innovation, Selma Imrenk’s artistic journey is one to watch.