Coco A. Lynge is a digital illustrator and character designer originally from Nuuk, Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), who currently works and resides in Denmark. Lynge’s artistry is characterized by its vibrancy and imagination, appealing to enthusiasts of both video games and children's literature. Influenced by the local art of Kalaallit Nunaat as well as Western artistic styles, Lynge initially wanted to study animation before venturing into computer graphic arts, where she seamlessly integrates her cultural heritage with digital media.
Lynge’s artistic journey began with a degree in Fashion Design from VIA University College in Herning, Denmark, before an interest in Disney and Pixar styles piqued a desire to try 3D sculpting and modelling. Her determination was tested through multiple rejections from The Animation Workshop, a prestigious animation school in Viborg, Denmark, which she pursued relentlessly until she was accepted. Reflecting on this milestone, Lynge shared “it was the best school I could find in the country; I was determined to get in.” [1] She ultimately earned a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Graphic Arts there. This pivotal period was marked by her work on the book Bestarium Groenlandica (2018), a project that became a turning point, showcasing her ability to blend intricate character studies with compelling, narrative-driven illustrations.
Lynge predominantly prefers to work in digital media, explaining that it is more forgiving. "You can erase and redo a line a thousand times without degradation. It’s a bit technical, but it allows for quick execution,” she says. Her portfolio spans a wide array of projects, including character concept art for AAA games at Mood Visuals, where she worked as a concept artist from 2021 to 2023, and children's books such as Counting Arctic Animals (2022) and Grampy’s Chair (2024). “I do art that appeals to everyone from newborns to gamers,” she jokes. Her work on children’s books in particular, which often introduce young readers to the fantastical creatures and wildlife of Kalaallit mythology, resonate with Lynge’s desire to work her own cultural heritage into the art she produces. “I have a lot of nostalgic feelings for my heritage [in Kalaallit Nunaat],” she says. These books also allow Lynge to work in a way she considers much more “inuitive,” unlike the very formally structured way she works on game development, with many developmental versions and collaborations with others in the studio.
Her work has been featured in notable exhibitions and collaborative projects in Denmark, Kalaallit Nunaat and Canada, including the exhibition Kusanartuliat (2022) at Kunsthal Nord in Aalborg, Denmark, and the multimedia installation Qiaqsutuq (2023) shown in Halifax, NS, as part of Nocturne. In 2023 she was named Artist of the Year by Juullip nipitittagaa, the Greenlandic Christmas Seal Foundation, for her outstanding contributions to the arts, particularly in character and concept design, and in 2024 she was awarded a gold medal for Multicultural Fiction at the Independent Publisher Book Awards for illustrating the book Mythical Monsters of Greenland: A Survival Guide (2023).