Gaby Esquinca
Gaby Esquinca is a Mexican illustrator and visual artist whose work explores the intersections of fantasy, mysticism, storytelling and social reflection. Through illustration, character creation and visual narratives, she creates emotionally charged worlds that invite audiences to imagine, connect and reflect on the world around them.
Born in Mexico City, Gaby developed a passion for drawing and storytelling from an early age, attending art courses at major museums and becoming particularly interested in children’s literature, graphic novels and illustrated narratives. Her artistic path also led her to study in Paris, an experience that became an important part of her relationship with art, illustration and visual culture.
She graduated with honors in Graphic Design from the Universidad del Valle de México, where she received first place in the National Interuniversity Character Design Competition for her work in character development and environmental awareness. She later earned a Master’s Degree in Illustration from the Centro Universitario de Mercadotecnia y Publicidad and a Doctorate in Critical Theory from the Centro de Estudios Superiores en Ciencias Jurídicas y Criminológicas.
Her artistic practice encompasses illustration, character design, visual storytelling, live drawing, large-scale interventions and collaborative art projects. Her work has been exhibited and presented internationally in Mexico, the United States, Italy, Israel, Spain, Japan and the United Kingdom, including projects in Chicago, New York, Bologna, London, Barcelona, Tel Aviv, Nagoya and Mexico City.
In recent years, her work has been featured at the Design Museum of Chicago, the Virtual Illustrators Wall in Bologna, and Art Mail Gallery by Winsor & Newton in London. In Mexico, she has participated in exhibitions and artistic projects with AMDI, FILIAZ, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana and Biblioteca Vasconcelos, among other cultural initiatives.
She is a member of the Asociación Mexicana de Ilustradores (AMDI).
Her recent projects include Los Grandes Amigos de Otto, presented at Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Resilientes, an AMDI exhibition presented at FILIAZ in Parque Aztlán, and Matrix Móvil: Pintando un mural de aniversario, a collective graphic intervention commemorating the 20th anniversary of Biblioteca Vasconcelos, organized with the Secretaría de Cultura, Gobierno de México. Her work was also selected for the Mexico category of the 2026 Virtual Illustrators Wall in Bologna.
Alongside her artistic practice, Gaby has worked on editorial, audiovisual and creative projects for cultural institutions, brands and organizations, including El Chavo del 8, Papalote Museo del Niño and Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana. Her professional experience in design, visual communication and digital media informs her approach to illustration while maintaining a strong focus on narrative and artistic expression.
She is currently illustrating an international children’s book and developing illustration projects for Young Adult literature, while continuing her professional work in fintech. Her current practice increasingly focuses on original visual worlds, character-driven storytelling and illustrated narratives that bring together imagination, critical thought and emotional experience.
Through her work, Gaby seeks to create images that do more than accompany a story: she wants them to become part of the story themselves.
Recent Exhibitions & Projects
2026
Art Mail Gallery, Winsor & Newton, London, United Kingdom
Los Grandes Amigos de Otto, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexico City
Resilientes, AMDI exhibition, FILIAZ, Parque Aztlán, Mexico City
Matrix Móvil: Pintando un mural de aniversario, collective graphic intervention commemorating the 20th anniversary of Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Secretaría de Cultura, Government of Mexico
Bazar Punto de Fuga, Atizapán de Zaragoza, Mexico
Virtual Illustrators Wall Bologna, selected piece featured in the Mexico category, Bologna, Italy
2025
Esperanza, After Five Studio, Design Museum of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Virtual Illustrators Wall Bologna, Bologna, Italy
2024
Ache, After Five Studio, Mexico City
2023
Oso con Causa, 3rd Edition, Puentes por la Paz, Jerusalem, Israel
Oso Tall, Universidad Anáhuac / AMANC Quintana Roo, large-format art intervention
Esperanza, After Five Studio, Mexico City
2022
Festival Jóvenes por la Paz, Bronx Community College, New York
Ayudando de Corazón, Ronald McDonald House
Oso con Causa, 2nd Edition
Entre Líneas, After Five Studio, Mexico City
2021
Oso con Causa, 1st Edition
X, After Five Studio, Mexico City
Childhood, After Five Studio, Mexico City
The Broken Places, After Five Studio, Chicago, IL
Plastic Happiness, After Five Studio, Chicago, IL
2020
Lotería Mexicana, After Five Studio, Chicago, IL
2019
Dual, After Five Studio, Mexico City
Leyendas de un Pueblo, Centro Cultural México Contemporáneo, Mexico City
2018
Mural Conmemorativo 10 años Maestría CUMP, Centro Universitario de Mercadotecnia y Publicidad
2015
Horrorem: ¿Hasta dónde llegan tus miedos?, Casa de Morelos Centro Comunitario, Ecatepec
2014
Por ellas tiene sentido, Mexico City
Día Internacional de Lucha Contra el Cáncer, Mexico City
2013
México en Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Fantaso: Circo Surrealista, Circo Volador Centro Cultural para las Artes
Ilustra Diseño 2013, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Azcapotzalco
1996
The 18th Annual Exhibition of Children’s Art From Nagoya’s Sister & Friendship Cities, Nagoya, Japan
Conferences and Workshops
La voz íntima de Jaime Sabines: Exploración de su poesía
2026; Coordinación Nacional de Literatura
“Fósforo” : El septimo arte visto a través de la líteratura
2023; Coordinación Nacional de Literatura
Estructuras simbólicas a través del arte y la ilustración
2021; Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Campus Estado de México
#Create4Change
2016, CENTRO.
Coordinación diplomado; Centro/ USAID / CIDAC
Los Personajes cobran vida
2016, UVM Campus Lomas Verdes
2011, Universidad de las Ideas, Queretaro
Diseño Social
2015, UVM Campus Lomas Verdes
2019, Fundacion Chocho