Anna Podedworna: From Architecture Dropout to Fantasy Art Powerhouse

Polish concept artist Anna Podedworna has spent more than a decade shaping the visual identity of some of the biggest franchises in gaming and fantasy entertainment. Working under the name Akreon, she counts GWENT: The Witcher Card Game, Cyberpunk 2077, League of Legends: Wild Rift, Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons among her credits.

In her illustrated worlds, even the wolves look capable of taking down an entire army. Her fantasy scenes bristle with snarling beasts, battle-hardened warriors and monstrous creatures, all charged with enough dramatic action, as the original report puts it, "to fill several epic adventures." Whether she depicts a desperate confrontation with an enormous predator or a mysterious sorcerer surrounded by supernatural forces, Podedworna makes imaginary scenes feel dangerously alive.

What defines Akreon's style?

Three qualities recur across her portfolio:

• Expressive brushwork paired with detailed character design.
• A strong command of animal anatomy, visible in the musculature and movement of her creatures.
• A preference for action over pose — she arranges figures in the middle of a moment rather than presenting them statically to the viewer.

That last habit defines her work most clearly. Podedworna captures movement and tension, freezing her subjects at the instant when something is about to happen. The result is fantasy illustration that feels kinetic rather than decorative, closer to a film still than to a pin-up.

Her personal work, separate from the commercial commissions, shows the same instincts. Animals, strange creatures and imaginative storytelling dominate it. The report characterizes the output bluntly: "It's fantasy art with plenty of teeth, claws, and personality."

How did an architect become a fantasy illustrator?

The route was unconventional. Podedworna originally studied architecture at Warsaw University of Technology. She abandoned her master's degree to pursue illustration instead — a decision that, in an industry that often rewards formal art-school training, set her apart from the start.

Her first major break came at CD Projekt RED, the Warsaw studio behind The Witcher and Cyberpunk series. There she began developing the professional skills that carried her into international game and film production, and into collaborations with publishers and developers across the fantasy sector.

What does her path change for aspiring illustrators?

For young artists weighing formal credentials against practice, Podedworna's career offers one concrete answer. A completed architecture degree proved unnecessary; studio experience, anatomical rigor and a distinctive voice did the work instead. Her decade-long run across card games, role-playing systems and blockbuster titles shows that fantasy illustration remains one of the few commercial fields where a self-directed portfolio can open the industry's largest doors.

Podedworna shares her work on Instagram under the handle Akreon, where the full range of her monsters, warriors and magical worlds is on display.