Meet the Judges: Katja Foos
The courage of a line
A few marks can hold an extraordinary amount of expression. In the work of Katja Foos, a turn of the head, the weight of a pose or the direction of a gaze becomes the starting point for an illustration that feels immediate and alive. Joining the judging panel for the 12th FIDA Fashion Illustration Awards, she brings a designer’s understanding of silhouette and an artist’s instinct for what makes an image memorable.
A former fashion director and knitwear designer, Katja approaches the figure with an understanding of how clothing relates to the body. Her bold black lines do more than outline a garment: they suggest movement, attitude and the individual wearing it. Areas of white space become part of the composition, allowing a handful of deliberate strokes to carry the image.
In its July 2026 profile, PAP Magazine explored this expressive economy, recognising how her background in fashion informs both her illustration and fine art. There is a particular confidence in knowing how much to leave open – in giving the viewer room to feel the presence of a figure without explaining every detail.
For Katja, inspiration begins with people. Art and fashion remain constant sources of interest, but it is individual expression that continues to draw her attention: the personal qualities that make a familiar gesture or silhouette entirely someone’s own. That curiosity gives her work its human connection, bringing personality to the foreground.
Her collaborations have taken this distinctive approach into both fashion and beauty. Among those she recalls with particular affection are her drawings of Christy Turlington at the Met Gala, which she says were purchased by Michael Kors for his private gallery and used in worldwide advertising in WWD to mark the company’s 45th anniversary. It is a meaningful example of an intimate, individual drawing finding a much wider audience.
She also highlights her collaboration with Susanne Kaufmann and Dover Street Parfums Market in Paris. Her work with Susanne Kaufmann continues through the brand’s 2026 Advent calendar and Christmas packaging, bringing her visual language to objects associated with ritual, anticipation and gifting.
As a judge – and as a lecturer working with emerging fashion designers – Katja values the confidence to interpret rather than simply reproduce. Asked what she will be looking for in an outstanding fashion illustration, her answer is clear:
“A courageous line work combined with a distinctive, deeply personal interpretation of what is observed.”
It is an invitation to trust a personal point of view. For artists entering this year’s FIDA Awards, Katja’s perspective offers encouragement to take a chance with a mark, follow an instinct and allow their own way of seeing to come through.
Discover Katja’s work:
Instagram @katjafooÂ
