In the digital age, creativity is no longer confined to traditional media, yet ideas remain king. Artem Pozdniakov, a world recognised visual artist and storyteller, has made a name for himself through surreal collages that merge the unexpected with the familiar. Artem offers insights into how imagination can reshape the way we see the world.
Artistic Journey & Background
Where are you from? Where did you grow up?
I’m from the remote northern city of Severomorsk in Russia.
I spent my childhood above the Arctic Circle, where the northern lights were a common sight and the sun was a rare guest.
Life there was quite harsh, but my memories are incredibly warm — probably thanks to the people around me: my family, friends, and teachers. At the age of ten, I moved to Moscow, where I continued my education, graduated from university, and took my first steps into design.
How did you first get interested in art and design?
Most likely, my interest in art and design was shaped in childhood. My mother led a children’s choir, and art in all its forms was an essential part of her life. Because of that, our home was filled with books and art albums featuring works by artists like Dalí, Malevich, Aivazovsky, and El Greco. And as we all know, kids love looking at pictures.
Later, this interest evolved with the rise of the internet and my growing desire to create things myself. Unfortunately, I was never very good at drawing by hand or getting anatomy right. But once I realized that I could create using computer programs — and that people actually liked what I was making — I fully committed to that path. I taught myself, experimented a lot, and was happy to discover a way to express myself creatively.
Your work often blends unexpected things in surprising ways. What draws your attention to that approach?
This technique is called “Juxtaposition.” I first learned about it while studying at an advertising academy. I like it because it’s simple, playful, and creates new meanings by mixing things that don’t normally go together. At the same time, it works as a kind of workout for your creative thinking. So it’s both a creative practice and a brain warm-up — especially useful when there isn’t much creativity in your daily life or work.
Visual Language & Process
How would you describe your visual style?
I defined my style early on, when I launched the 360brain project in 2016 — it’s based on photo manipulation. I often place the resulting images on bright backgrounds. To me, this makes them more eye-catching, sets the right mood, and gives them a more “advertising-like” feel. Since I started this project purely for myself and for Instagram, it felt like this kind of content would look great and instantly grab attention. And it worked!
Of course, meanings are an essential part of my visual language. The ideas embedded in the images matter just as much as the visuals themselves. Without meaning, there is no creativity.
Could you walk us through how you usually start a piece?
My process usually starts with a moment of insight — or, on the contrary, with searching for a simple or interesting idea that I want to turn into a visual metaphor. Inspiration often comes while scrolling through the news feed, watching TV series, or simply from everyday routines and the objects around me.
Over time, I’ve learned which themes resonate with a wider audience, and I try to return to those directions from time to time. It could be a playful image built around a cup of coffee or a bottle of wine, or a metaphor touching on topics that matter to many people — like tolerance or protest.
In the end, the most important part is coming up with the idea first, and only then moving on to its visual execution.
What’s one challenge you face in your creative process?
The hardest part is coming up with ideas and finding the inner energy and resources for creativity. When I first started the project, I challenged myself to create one image a day. It was a personal challenge. Over time, though, I began doing it less often simply because I ran out of time and energy — my main job is also built around thinking and creating ideas.
Another challenge is turning an idea into something real. Sometimes it’s easy: you combine two objects, place them on a bold background, and you’re done in 20 minutes. But other times the idea is difficult — or even impossible — to execute. I even taught myself 3D in order to bring some concepts to life, because they simply couldn’t be realized using Photoshop alone.
How has the rise of digital art changed the way you think about creativity?
Digital art has greatly expanded my understanding of creativity itself. Now the idea matters more than the tool: it’s not so important whether you’re painting with a brush, working in 3D, or using an algorithm — what matters is the meaning you’re able to assemble from all of it.
Speed has changed everything too: the ability to experiment without the fear of “ruining” something, to mix the unmixable, and to see results instantly. Creativity has become more about thinking and making choices, rather than technique for the sake of technique. And the digital environment constantly introduces new limitations — which, surprisingly, are often what give birth to the most interesting solutions.
Do you think AI will redefine what it means to be an artist?
I see AI primarily as a tool. For a digital artist, it’s simply a new brush or a new material to work with. Behind every creative work, first and foremost, stands your own idea and vision. The question is only how you choose to bring it to life.
An artist is not just someone with technical drawing skills — an artist is, above all, a creative thinker and a dreamer. They invent ideas. And only they know how to execute them in a way that their personal style is instantly recognizable in their work.
Vision & the Future
What are you excited about next in your work?
I’m inspired by the rapid development of AI. What wasn’t possible just six months ago has already become a reality. This kind of progress pushes me to try new things, learn how to work with these tools, and look at my own work — both past and future — from a completely new perspective.
Any advice for emerging artists?
My advice would be to never stop learning and experimenting with new things. Try recreating what others have made — there’s nothing wrong with that. You’re simply sharpening different techniques, expanding your skills, and discovering what truly resonates with you.
We live in a completely different time than we did 20 years ago. Today, everyone has a smartphone, interne
t access, countless free educational resources, and entire worlds to draw inspiration from. Use it all — everything is right in front of you.
How can people reach you? What services do you offer?
You can reach me via my Instagram @360brain or my web-site - www.360-brain.com . If any of my works really resonate with you and you’d like to use them — for example, in advertising a product or as a label — we can definitely discuss it.
I also create custom artwork for brands and publications. In short, there are plenty of collaboration options — just reach out!
