Gabriel Covarrubias is a Sydney-based visual artist and publisher, founder of Paper Waves Books, whose cross-cultural practice spans Mexico, China and Australia. Originally from Mexico City, he has lived in Australia since 2019. Much of his inspiration comes from wandering in nature, coastal walks, exploring beach rocks and roaming national parks.
After completing a Bachelor of Graphic Design in Mexico, Gabriel worked in corporate design before moving to Xi’an, China, where he spent four years earning a Master’s degree in Design and Fine Arts. There he immersed himself in Chinese calligraphy and traditional ink painting, experiences that continue to guide his sense of brushwork, light and expressive stroke.
Today Gabriel devotes himself to painting and drawing. Working primarily with acrylic on canvas and ink on paper, he often brings the maobi (Chinese calligraphy brush) onto canvas to weave feelings, stories and abstract concepts into vivid visual narratives.
As a publisher, his project Paper Waves Books has released two poetry books that interlace Nahuatl, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and English. He curates every stage, book design, layout, translation, and painting or illustration. His first publication has been exhibited in China and Australia, and he is now shaping a new title that continues this journey of languages and landscapes, carrying stories across cultures like waves travelling from shore to shore.
Education
Master of Fine Arts and Design Academy Of Fine Arts, Shaanxi Normal University.
Xi’an, Shaanxi, China (2016-2019)
Award in Outstanding Graduation for Creative Production.
Bachelor in Graphic Design, University of Technology of Mexico (2008-2012)
Languages
Mandarin Fluent
English Fluent
Spanish Native
Exhibitions
2023, Solo exhibition, IMMERSIA 2023: Illustration and Translation of Mexican Indigenous Poetry into Chinese Mandarin
Acrylic and oil Paintings , Collection of works 2016 – 2019
2019, “Metaphors of Reality”, Jambo Gallery, Xi’an, China
2019, “Tropical Mystic”, The Vinyl House, Xi’an, China
2019, “The Origin” indigenous poetry from Mexico, Academy of Fine Arts, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an China
Poster design Collection of works 2017-2019
2019, Street Art Exhibition “Ayahuasca Soundsystem” Yanta, Distric, Xi’an China
2018, “Silk Road International Arts Festival” Poster Design competition Xi’an, China
2018, “7th National Creative Poster Design Competition for Ocean Culture”, Shanghai, China
2017, “6th National Creative Poster Design Competition for Ocean Culture”, Shanghai, China
Awards
July 2019 – Graduated from the Master of Arts and Design, with the thesis project “Illustration and Translation of Mexican Indigenous poetry to Chinese Mandarin and English”
June 2019 – I was selected to present my master thesis project to the Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO
2018, Excellence Award “Silk Road International Arts Festival” Poster Design competition Xi’an, China
2018, Excellence Award in the “ 7th National Creative Poster Design Competition for Ocean Culture”, Shanghai, China
2017, Excellence Award in the “6th National Creative Poster Design Competition for Ocean Culture”, Shanghai, China
2015, Awarded China Scholarship Council for Master’s program