Gabriel Moreno’s work is a lush, chic fantasy world oozing with style. This is an obvious inspiration from the illustrator’s home of Madrid.

“There is always something going on,” Gabriel says. “Everything influences my work but I would say the people and the relations have a lot more to do with it.”

Gabriel spent time studying Fine Arts at the University of Sevilla. The first three years there, like most college students, he partied every weekend and slept during the week. The last two years something in him changed and urged him to catch up with all the time he lost.

“I didn’t stop drawing,” Gabriel says. “I learned about painting and engraving. That is really important and influenced what I do today.”

Art was always in Gabriel’s life. He’s been drawing since he was a kid but never thought this could be a career until recently.

“Since I was a kid I really liked drawing,” he explains. “I never thought I could live off it but here we are.”

Trying different approaches and proving himself with different techniques is what keeps Gabriel motivated. While painting in the University he decided to take the CAP, an exam to become a teacher, and missed the deadline for submission. He decided to move his work in galleries and since then has been interested in engraving.

“My work is realist and based on traditional techniques,” Gabriel says. “It is applied to a contemporary concept and aesthetic.”
Gabriel’s illustrations have him in demand by big clients like Snickers, Universal Music, and Rolling Stone Magazine among a myriad of others. While some artists find it difficult to manage the business side of art while being creative, bridging the gap between art and business has never been an issue for Gabriel.
“I never saw a gap,” Gabriel says between the distinction of art and business. “Art is business, I work for big clients and I try to give a creative solution, the commercial side gives me the freedom to make my personal artwork.”

Gabriel’s future work will be interesting. He plans to explore new fields like sculpture, fashion, animation and short films.
“Trying to describe art is really complicated,” Gabriel says. “Technologies democratize the art, I don’t consider illustration as art, I consider myself a craftsman that works by different orders adapting my work as a creative solution to different needs. I only feel close to art when I work in a personal project as concept but honestly when I do it I still feel as an intruder.”

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