Street Art in Łódź: A Talk with PRA

Everyone in Łódź – sooner or later – will stumble upon him. In bright shades of yellow, pink, orange or green. Unbothered, he’ll be staring right at you from the wall.

Dream Eater.

[Psst… Tutaj znajdziesz polską wersję tego wpisu.]

So I thought – why not reach out to its creator, PAV.RAZ.ART (PRA), and ask him about those fish on the walls… and a few other Łódź-related things? 

Well, here we are.

Self-taught or formally educated when it comes to art?

I graduated in graphic design from one of the schools in Łódź. That’s where I built the foundations I’m still developing today. Over time, I expanded my skills into 3D, filming and video editing. And the newest addition to my creative toolbox is graffiti. Throughout the years, I’ve worked many different jobs, not only in creative fields. But all of those experiences only confirmed one thing: creating was, is, and always will be my path.

Why a fish?

To answer that, we need to go back to the end of 2023.

At that time, I was going through a crisis. I felt completely unable to develop my talents in the areas I truly enjoyed. My focus shifted entirely to professional life, and there was space left to return to my roots, I mean – drawing, which I once loved deeply. There was energy building up inside me, but I couldn’t find the right outlet for it.

Until one day, something just snapped.

The goal for that day was simple: fill the ENTIRE page. The subject didn’t matter. The technique didn’t matter. Just finish it.

And somehow, it worked.

It was pure fun. My mind completely switched off. No thinking, no doubts.

Every day, a new drawing appeared. Total abstraction. And whenever emotions showed up (the kind that used to make me give up) I decided to just draw them. Doubt? Fine, let’s see what it looks like. Uncertainty? Draw it next to it.

After a few weeks, one of the drawings surprised me: an intriguing fragment, some kind of creature. I started developing it, treating it as its own subject.

And that’s how the first fish was born – Dream Eater.

Was I looking for it, or was it looking for me? I still don’t know. Sometimes it feels like I’m not the one creating it. It’s creating me.

Since then, I’ve drawn many different versions of the Eaters, but I know I’ll return to pure abstraction. It gives me huge satisfaction.

What made you decide to take your art to the streets?

Once I started creating regularly, curiosity kicked in – how would it look on a larger scale?

I’ve always loved exploring abandoned places, so there was never a shortage of empty walls. Bringing my work onto the streets was really just a formality. 

As for the very first PRA Fish, honestly, I don’t remember exactly where it appeared. But one of the first larger Dream Eaters created outdoors saw the light of day on a railway embankment in Warsaw.

What does the creator of the Dream Eaters dream about? What goal or project would you most like to bring to life?

For now, I try not to burn myself out chasing big, distant goals. Instead, I focus on small steps. They help me see real progress and slowly build trust in myself.

When it comes to video, a larger project is slowly starting to take shape. It might become one of the most important things I’ve done so far, but for now, I’ll keep the details to myself. Lately, I’ve also felt increasingly drawn toward working with physical materials: wood, metal, even welding.

More generally, my plans revolve around nurturing abundance, health, fulfilment, openness, peace, and meaningful relationships. Letting go of everything that doesn’t serve me. Simplifying life down to what truly matters.

In the second half of 2025, you had your exhibition at Niebostan. The event description said that “there’s nothing and no one standing between you and your dreams.” How does that actually work for you?

When I really care about something and feel that it makes sense, not much can stop me. A big part of it is trusting my own potential and simply being a bit kinder to myself along the way.

In the end, my biggest enemy is usually me. So I simply try not to get in my own way or sabotage my own ideas.

With time, I’ve started to understand what I actually want, and because of that, making things happen feels much lighter than it used to.

Graffiti is only one part of your creative work. You also create videos and graphics. What inspires you – music, surroundings, people, everyday life, or something else entirely?

I feel suffocated when I’m stuck in just one field. That’s why I love the whole process: urbex explorations, creating, watching the sunrise after an all-night painting session, documenting everything, editing, and then translating it all into a digital form. No monotony. My mind stays sharp and constantly refreshed.

I’m inspired by my surroundings and whatever emotions I happen to be carrying at the moment. Sometimes a single word, taken completely out of context, is enough for an entire story to begin.

Łódź itself sparks the imagination – the graffiti, the architecture, the people. That’s why driving a sword, a colourful fish, into the grey body of Bałuty brings a particular kind of satisfaction.

I’m drawn to kitsch, oversaturated colours, pixels, abstract thinking, contrasts, chaos, and “wild” people. But at the same time, silence, emptiness, and calm give me just as much fuel. I also like following mistakes. Many creators are afraid of them, but I believe that if you stay with a mistake instead of running away from it, it can surprise you in the best possible way.

As you mentioned with Bałuty, do you deliberately look for grey spaces to create contrast? Or are there other criteria when choosing locations for the Dream Eaters?

I don’t know why, but I’ve always felt drawn to Bałuty. I used to walk around there a lot. And once I started painting, even more so. Contrast definitely plays a role. For people who aren’t from Łódź, a walk through Bałuty can be quite an experience, so it feels good to add a few colourful accents to that landscape. A fish in bright, saturated colours easily “swims” straight into your brain. The uglier the surroundings, the better.

Where was your favourite Dream Eater in Łódź created?

At the corner of Wschodnia and Jaracza Streets. The fish like to fly high.

I’m not sure whether it’s about the Eater itself or more about the location. It’s one of the vibrant corners in Łódź. I just feel really good walking around that area.

We’ve mentioned Łódź and Warsaw in our conversation. Where else can someone run into a Dream Eater?

Just Łódź and Warsaw. For now…

Do you live in Łódź? And if so, would you recommend it, or rather not?

There’s no simple answer. You either love Łódź or you hate it. It has just as many strengths as weaknesses.

I used to live in Łódź. It has the perfect size – compact enough to get around quickly, yet large and diverse enough that you never really get bored. 

The beautiful city centre, with its rich history and distinctive architecture, is a huge asset. Łódź remains one of the most important cultural hubs in Poland.

It’s located right in the centre of the country. Everywhere is relatively close. There are countless events of all kinds. And I probably don’t even need to mention the graffiti scene…

But you also can’t ignore the fact that there are many neglected and underprivileged districts. A lot of people leave Łódź because of career prospects or job opportunities. And visually – well, not everyone falls for its rough aesthetic.

How should a city support artists like you?

Considering how many post-industrial spaces Łódź has, they could be used in a much more creative way.

One idea would be an interior graffiti gallery in Łódź, a large industrial space divided into different creative zones. One of them could function as a Hall of Fame dedicated exclusively to local artists. Only ŁDZ Artists – OŁA. A place that celebrates the local scene and builds its identity.

The gallery could host monthly graffiti contests and battles. The winner would get their own wall for the next few days or weeks. It’d be a form of recognition and prestige. With that kind of rotation, the space would constantly evolve, stay alive, and keep attracting visitors.

The project could also encourage young people to get involved in art through workshops and the opportunity to create legally. Building a conscious, creative community.

It would become a permanent point on the map of Łódź. A place where you feel like you’re part of the art, not just observing it. A space connecting the city’s industrial history with modern, raw urban expression.

Which Łódź event deserves more attention?

Light Move Festival is a beautiful event. But I have the feeling (and I’m not the only one) that year by year the level of creativity and the quality of the installations has been dropping. It doesn’t spark the same excitement it did a few years ago.

It’s great that Parada Wolności returned after years of absence.

And the Międzynarodowy Festiwal Komiksu i Gier. It’s a fantastic place to find inspiration and learn directly from professionals.

In general, Łódź is very strong in this area. There’s a wide range of events. Everyone can find something for themselves.

The last great piece you’ve seen on the streets of Łódź?

I really like the “heads” by Yasin. Combined with solid typography, they create interesting compositions. There’s spray, there’s roller work, strong colours. Bold pieces. And of course, there’s a whole group of writers you can constantly learn from when it comes to technique.

Ostatnie pytanieLast question – what track should be playing in someone’s headphones while they’re out in the city hunting for Dream Eaters?

Underworld – Dark & Long – Dark Train.

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So, what’s next?

Check out the artist’s Instagram and his website. There’s plenty more waiting there.