Denis Zhbankov Blends Russian Folklore With Dark Fantasy, Summoning Comedy‑Horror Creatures That Feel Like They Moved Into Your Village And Never Left

Denis Zhbankov is a Russian freelance digital artist and concept artist known for mixing comedy and horror, often drawing dark fantasy creatures rooted in Russian folklore and “backwoods” atmospheres.

He was born and raised in Russia’s Altai region, studied art/graphics in Biysk and graduated in 2010, then shifted into digital painting—working as a 2D artist in the game industry before going fully freelance. His credits include mobile games at Skytec Games (e.g., Horrorfield, Godlands, Card Heroes), tabletop/IP work for Paizo (Pathfinder, Starfinder), and collaborations via RocketBrush Studio on major titles like Crusader Kings III and Empire of Sin.

More: Instagram

If you want more awesome content, subscribe to Design You Trust Facebook page.

More Inspiring Stories

Leaf Beasts: Simple Animal Sculptures Cut from Dried Magnolia Leaves

Megumi Fujimoto's Cute Fat Piglets

Soviet Anti-Alcohol Posters In The 1970s And 1980s

Awesome Illustrations About Women by Majéon

Mysterious Soviet Leningrad City in Noir and Atmospheric Photographs by Boris Smelov

"The Book Of Bunny Suicides": Hilariously Dark Cartoon Series By Andy Riley

A Helpful 1930's Guide On How To Avoid Electrocuting Yourself

Artist Blends Traditional Art Techniques And AI-generated Images To Create Gorgeous Vintage Artworks

“In A Parallel Universe”: Artist Exposes Sexism By Switching Up Gender Roles In Old-School Ads

Artist Creates Canvases Inspired by Classics Video Games

The Chill And Retro Motion Pixel Art Of Motocross Saito

Youth Gone Wild: Stunning Photos Of The Russian Underground Dance Culture

These People Love 'Friends' So Much They’ve Got Tattoos Inspired By The Sitcom

Artist Yung Jake Turns 20,000 Emojis Into Amazing Lifelike Celeb Portraits

One Free Month of Hulu Plus - Get Instant Access to Your Favorite TV Shows & Movies. Anywhere.

"Super Best Friends": Friendships Are Everywhere We Look!

China: The Land Where Fake Brands Reign Supreme

Harry Potter Fans Created A Fitting Tribute To Alan Rickman On Platform 9 3/4

Artist Creates Modern Landscapes In His Unique Abstract Style

Artist Shows The Sorrow Of Thrown Away Objects He Finds In The Streets By Drawing Sad Clown Faces On Them

"Lamb Of Future": Cyberpunk Noire Fashion Collages By Alexander Berdin-Lazursky

ESPN EURO 2012

Iranian Artist Shows The Harsh Reality Of Doctors During Coronavirus Outbreak

Digital Artist Turns Nature’s Images Into Animals

There Are Only Two Kinds Of People In This World

This Artist Makes Alternative Posters For Horror Films And TV Series In The Form Of Clay Sculptures

Cute And Clever Illustrations By Jaco Haasbroek

Amazing Hyper-Detailed Pen & Ink Drawings by Joe Fenton

Atmospheric Minimalist and Dreamlike Black & White Illustrations by Sulir

"I'm Not Your Toy": The Superb Contemporary Paintings by Inga Makarova