My name is BENA GABO, an illustrator and mural artist with over 10 years of professional experience creating impactful and meaningful artwork across Barcelona, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. I’m driven by a vision of visual storytelling that uses thoughtful color, composition, and narrative to invite curiosity, encourage interaction, and leave a lasting impression. Through personal and socially engaged projects, I explore how images can reflect lived experiences, amplify human rights, and reinterpret stories with clarity and elegance. I enjoy collaborating with organizations, teams, and creatives to deliver strong visual systems across print, digital, and public art.…

BENA GABO

My name is BENA GABO, an illustrator and mural artist with over 10 years of professional experience creating impactful and meaningful artwork across Barcelona, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. I’m driven by a vision of visual storytelling that uses thoughtful color, composition, and narrative to invite curiosity, encourage interaction, and leave a lasting impression. Through personal and socially engaged projects, I explore how images can reflect lived experiences, amplify human rights, and reinterpret stories with clarity and elegance. I enjoy collaborating with organizations, teams, and creatives to deliver strong visual systems across print, digital, and public art.…

Available to hire

My name is BENA GABO, an illustrator and mural artist with over 10 years of professional experience creating impactful and meaningful artwork across Barcelona, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. I’m driven by a vision of visual storytelling that uses thoughtful color, composition, and narrative to invite curiosity, encourage interaction, and leave a lasting impression.

Through personal and socially engaged projects, I explore how images can reflect lived experiences, amplify human rights, and reinterpret stories with clarity and elegance. I enjoy collaborating with organizations, teams, and creatives to deliver strong visual systems across print, digital, and public art.

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Language

Spanish; Castilian
Fluent
English
Fluent

Work Experience

Teaching and Design Leadership (Mural / Design Supervision) at Spanish Cultural Center in Nicaragua (CCEN) / Alianza Francesa en Managua (community workshops)
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2024
Supervised the design and execution of a collective mural with students. Introduced mural painting techniques and color theory, guided collaborative design processes, and encouraged creativity, teamwork, and participation through public art. Supported educational delivery of complex visual and artistic concepts for diverse participants.
Mural Workshop Supervisor / Instructor (Collective Mural Leadership) at Spanish Cultural Center in Nicaragua (CCEN) / Alianza Francesa en Managua
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2024
Supervised design and execution of a collective mural with students. Introduced mural painting techniques and color theory; guided collaborative design processes, encouraging creativity, teamwork, and participation through public art.
Art Direction, Visual Identity, Illustration, Editorial Design at Entre Pueblos / Activistas por la Vida (selected projects)
January 1, 2022 - Present
Led art direction for the project’s visual identity and web layout. Produced illustrated portraits of human rights activists from Honduras and Guatemala based on photographer Gervasio Sánchez’s work. Designed print and digital communication materials, including infographics and visual storytelling systems for educational purposes. Adapted illustration work for digital social media campaign use and collaborated with producers, web designers, and developers to bring deliverables to a cohesive, publishable standard.
Art Director (Editorial/Visual Identity) & Illustrator at Activistas por la Vida / Entre Pueblos
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2022
Provided art direction for the visual identity and web layout; created portrait illustrations and designed communication materials for print and digital platforms. Built infographic and visual storytelling systems for educational purposes and supported editorial design of educational publications in collaboration with producers and web designers.
Art Director and Web Layout Designer (Portraits Project) at Entre Pueblos (Activistas por la Vida)
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2022
Created an illustrated portrait series of human rights activists from Guatemala and Honduras and acted as art director for the project. Collaborated with a team of web developers to bring the website online. Delivered portraits and corresponding visual direction for print and digital assets; project selected in major design/illustration biennials.
Art Direction and Illustrations (Teaching Unit Workbook) at Entre Pueblos (Activistas por la Vida) – Teaching Unit Workbook
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2022
Designed the visual style for an educational workbook and created illustrations for the inside content. Adapted illustrations to a digital social media campaign to promote the positive reach and educational goals of the organization’s work.
Art Direction, Editorial Design, Visual Communication at PhotoDemos Collective / University College London - Nicaragua (Citizens of Photography)
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2020
Provided art direction for editorial publications and visual communication. Designed photobooks and editorial layouts emphasizing storytelling and the narrative power of selected photography and archives. Collaborated with photographers and editors to produce cohesive visual narratives. Prepared files for professional print production and digital distribution, ensuring consistent typographic and layout quality.
Art Direction (Editorial Publications and Visual Communication) at PhotoDemos Collective – Citizens of Photography (University College London, Nicaragua)
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2020
Directed editorial art and visual communication for photobooks/layouts. Designed book formats and editorial layouts emphasizing narrative through selected photography and archives; collaborated with photographers and editors for coherent visual storytelling. Prepared print and digital distribution files.
Muralist at Brochas
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2020
Designed and painted large-scale murals in private spaces. Translated conceptual artwork into architectural-scale compositions. Planned and managed production logistics, from initial sketches to final installation. Collaborated with artists, cultural organizers, and producers to execute public-facing and site-specific artworks at scale, ensuring quality and coherent visual outcomes.
Muralist (Designer & Painter) at Brochas
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2020
Designed and painted large-scale murals in private spaces. Collaborated with artists and cultural organizers/producers; translated conceptual artwork into architectural-scale compositions. Planned production logistics and managed execution from sketches to final installation.
Designer, Illustrator; Art Direction support at CiertoGuis Productions
January 1, 2015 - January 1, 2018
Designed promotional campaigns for documentaries, cultural events, and artistic productions. Created original illustrations, posters, editorial graphics, and social media content. Developed visual identities for creative audiovisual projects and cinema. Worked alongside filmmakers, photographers, and artists through the creative process. Served as assistant art director on film locations. Prepared files for print production and digital distribution, supporting consistent, production-ready deliverables.
Designer, Illustrator at CiertoGuis Productions
January 1, 2015 - January 1, 2018
Designed promotional campaigns for documentaries, cultural events, and artistic productions. Created original illustrations, posters, editorial graphics and social media content; developed visual identities for creative audiovisual projects and cinema. Worked with filmmakers, photographers and artists through the creative process; served as assistant art direction on film location. Prepared files for professional print production and digital distribution.
Graphic Designer, Art direction, Illustration at Crack Creativos (Event Agency)
January 1, 2010 - January 1, 2015
Conceptualized and designed visual identities for events and campaigns. Created branding systems and logotypes, plus promotional materials and original digital illustrations for marketing and communication. Produced posters, banners, social media assets, brochures and presentations; developed merch for artists/bands/events; maintained brand consistency across channels. Coordinated visual production with printers, architects, event organizers, artists, producers, marketing and in-house teams, including print/digital file preparation and quality control.

Education

MA in Illustration and Visual Narrative at Elisava school of design and engineering
September 22, 2023 - July 31, 2024
The MA in Illustration and Visual Narrative immerses you in contemporary visual languages, teaching you to express your creative personality as a professional in illustration, drawing and visual storytelling. Expand your skills alongside leading figures who will mentor your professional and personal growth.
Master’s Degree in Illustration and Visual Narrative at Elisava School of Design and Engineering
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2024
B.A. in Design and Visual Communication at UAM Nicaragua
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2014
Master’s Degree Illustration and Visual Narrative at Elisava School of Design and Engineering
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2024
B.A. in Design and Visual Communication at UAM Nicaragua
January 1, 2011 - January 1, 2014

Qualifications

Buddy Bear 2015 Competition (Winner), Embassy of Germany in Nicaragua
January 1, 2015 - August 14, 2026

Industry Experience

Other, Education, Media & Entertainment, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services