Architects and designers find new inspiration for mountain interiors: Josipa Maras and Mateja Kovač unveil the Ski Collection

After taking us to some of the most beautiful Mediterranean destinations last summer through their artistic interpretations, Josipa Maras and Mateja Kovač have joined creative forces once again. This time, their art takes us to snow-capped peaks, ski slopes and charming Alpine villages. The new Studijo Ski Collection features nine original visual stories, bringing together Mateja’s playful illustrations and Josipa’s distinctive design signature to create an entirely new aesthetic for mountain interiors.We believe the collection will be particularly welcomed by architects and interior designers shaping some of the most beautiful mountain retreats, as well as by everyone who shares a passion for the mountains, skiing and the magic of winter travel.

A shared love of art, creativity and stories that extend beyond the boundaries of the canvas has brought Josipa Maras and Mateja Kovač together once again, this time for a collection inspired by winter and the mountain lifestyle. For Josipa, the theme also holds a special personal meaning. Her love of skiing and spending time in the mountains has long been part of her family life, and the desire to bring her own artistic signature to this world naturally paved the way for a new collaboration.The choice of creative partner was no coincidence. Josipa wanted to bring Mateja’s distinctive way of depicting human figures, movement and everyday moments together with Studijo’s artistic signature and recognisable approach to interior design, creating a collection whose true value will only fully unfold once it finds its place in real-life interiors.

“When the idea for the Ski Collection first came to life, I immediately knew who I wanted to join creative forces with once again. Mateja was my first choice. I absolutely love her artistic signature, the way she observes people and how much character she manages to bring to her figures. But the most exciting part is yet to come. I believe that architects and interior designers are the ones who will truly bring this collection’s story to life. We have given them the starting point, and they will breathe new life into it through their ideas and creativity. I already find myself dreaming of the day when, after a day on the slopes, I return to a mountain hotel and spot our wallpaper on the wall. I believe that moment would be one of the most beautiful affirmations of everything we have created together,” reveals Josipa Maras.

The new collection reveals just how many different moods a winter landscape can evoke. Rather than relying on the expected imagery of snow-covered scenery and mountain peaks, Josipa and Mateja create an entire little world where movement, nature, architecture, people and the atmosphere of a winter getaway intertwine. Each wallpaper is conceived as an independent artistic composition, but also as part of a space in which its story takes on a new dimension.

One design features a lone skier in ochre tones, almost floating between snow-covered rock formations, while the expansive, delicately textured background evokes a sense of freedom and the vastness of the mountains. Other motifs bring lush winter forests and stylised trees, their branches rendered in warm shades of beige, brown and grey that blend beautifully with interiors defined by natural wood, stone and soft textiles. A particular sense of dynamism comes from compositions featuring skiers in motion, from playful figures gliding down imaginary slopes to groups of skiers whose outfits in shades of green, orange and red bring life to otherwise understated mountain landscapes. The collection also features scenes of winter villages, complete with wooden chalets, a viaduct and a train winding its way through the snowy landscape, as well as illustrated gondolas suspended above mountain slopes. Every detail evokes the journeys, encounters and memories we so often associate with winter holidays.

One of the collection’s most visually captivating compositions depicts a group of female skiers enjoying a mountain getaway, capturing a moment of respite that evokes the atmosphere of iconic Alpine destinations and their après-ski rituals. In contrast to these playful scenes are more tranquil interpretations of forest motifs, almost painterly surfaces defined by texture, light and earthy tones. This diversity opens up a wealth of possibilities for incorporating the collection into mountain homes, chalets, boutique hotels, guest rooms, restaurants and wellness spaces. Thanks to Studijo’s approach to personalisation, individual designs can be tailored to the dimensions, composition and character of each interior. The same motif can therefore become a striking wall mural or a more understated element within a broader architectural concept.

For illustrator Mateja Kovač, this new collaboration was an opportunity to continue the creative dialogue that began with the summer collection, while also placing her distinctive world of characters and everyday moments in an entirely different setting. Her illustrations have a unique ability to capture moments we all recognise – from the excitement before the first run down the slopes to spontaneous gatherings, laughter and moments of relaxation after a day spent in the snow. The success of the previous collaboration provided additional motivation for this new joint project. Bringing together Mateja’s illustrations and Studijo’s expertise in designing large-scale wall surfaces once again opened up room for experimentation, while allowing them to create designs that go beyond the artwork itself and become part of everyday life.

“Our first collaboration was a truly special experience for me because, for the first time, I got to see my illustrations step beyond their usual boundaries and become part of someone’s home. That’s why I was genuinely excited when the idea of a winter story came along.I love illustrating people in motion, little everyday situations, spontaneous moments and all the things that make them feel real. And skiing and winter holidays are full of exactly those kinds of scenes.Josipa has an incredible sense of how to translate an illustration onto a large surface and make it work in harmony with a space. What excites me most is the thought that our work might bring a smile to someone’s face or awaken a fond memory somewhere high in the mountains this winter.If art can bring a little warmth to people even when temperatures outside are well below zero, then I think we’ve created something truly beautiful,” says Mateja Kovač.

The new Ski Collection continues the story of two artists who share a love of illustration, yet approach it from different creative perspectives. One through the characters and moments she captures, the other through the stylised language of walls and interiors in which these scenes come to life.And somewhere between snow-capped peaks, ski slopes and the warmth of mountain interiors, an art form emerges that reminds us that the most beautiful parts of winter are often the ones we share with others.