| Kostja Gatnik | |
| Birth Date: | 1945 9, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Ljubljana, FS Slovenia, DF Yugoslavia |
| Nationality: | Slovenian |
| Field: | Painting, drawing, illustrating, design |
| Training: | Academy of Fine Arts, Ljubljana |
| Works: | Children's books illustrations, comic books |
Kostja Gatnik (11 September 1945 – 1 August 2022)[1] was a Slovene artist, graphic designer and illustrator, best known for his illustrations in children's books.[2]
Gatnik was born in Ljubljana in 1945. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana. He worked as a painter, graphic designer, illustrator and photographer. He illustrated over 60 books, published cartoons and designed puppets and theatre costumes. Among all characters he created perhaps the most famous is Magna Purga, a comic book hero.
In 2010, he won the Grand Prešeren Award for his lifetime achievements in the fine arts.[3] In 2011, he won the Levstik Award for lifetime achievement in illustration.[3]