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

A Collection Of Hand-Painted Movie Posters From Africa

Gorgeous Celestial Maps And Illustrations From A 19th Century American Atlas

Amazing Fantasy Landscapes And Book Cover Art By Concept Artist Raja Nandepu

Single Dad Illustrates What It’s Like To Raise A Child, And It’ll Melt Your Heart

Child of Terror: Creepy Illustrations by Dolce Paganne

In the Middle Ages, the Italian City of Bologna Had Over 100 Skyscraper-Like Towers

"The Closer You Are...": Superb Emotional and Cyberpunk Illustrations by Death & Milk

Retro Studio Portrait Photos Show What Men’s Hairstyles Looked Like in the 1970s

This Artist Uses Music Sheets To Create Stunning Illustrations

Japanese Artist Creates Charming Balloon Sculptures

Stunning Detailed Portraits of Bathing People By Alyssa Monks

Witty Illustrations Capture The Pitfalls And Contradictions Of Contemporary Life

This Sexy Piece Of Clothing Is Becoming Increasingly Popular In Japan

"The Black & The White": Superb Digital Art By Riana Møller

Conrad Engelhardt’s Stained Wine Cork Paintings

This Streets Artist Creates Stunning 3D Art That Interacts With Its Surroundings

15 Comics That Perfectly Capture The First Year Of Being A Mom

Amazing Dark Cinematic Concept Artworks of Ash Thorp

Make 'em Cry: Melancholic Illustrations by Kirsten Rothbart

Watercolor Illustrations Depicting Night Streets Of Tokyo By Mateusz Urbanowicz

Retiree Paints Russian Patterns On Satellite Dishes

Unknown Artist Creates Amazing Studio Ghibli Anime Character Moss Murals In Countryside

Meet Maria Oz – The Girl With Amazingly Big Eyes

Finland Through a Whimsical Lens of Antti Karppinen's Magical AI Visuals

Attractive Girls, Freaks, and Grannies with Rifles: Crazy Art by Ramón Nuñez

What If Game Of Thrones Characters Worked In An Ad Agency

This Artist Is Ruining Our Childhoods by Revealing The Secrets Of Our Beloved Characters

12 Best Exercises To Do At Your Desk

'Error Trump': A Playing Card Set Displaying Windows Errors Exists

Guy Hilariously Photoshops Himself Into Awkward Stock Photos, Again