About
Photo: Nitzia Garcia
Gabriela Alemán is a Nicaraguan-Salvadoran illustrator from San Francisco's Mission District. Working under her artist name, Smug Morenita, she creates boldly colored designs that range from protest art to reimagined cultural iconography, blending the aesthetics of comics, folklore, and pop art. Her work spans illustration, animation, and short-form video for brands, organizations, and her own audience.
When she's not drawing, she fundraises for Mission Meals to give out free groceries in the neighborhood she grew up in, dances traditional Nicaraguan folklore, or is crabbing by the bay.
💌 Have a project in mind? Please start with the contact form or email smugmorenita@gmail.com.
Clients
Hulu Instagram Google Pay Waymo Topo Chico
J.P. Morgan Chase San Francisco Bay Ferry Ipsy Wells Fargo Micheal’s
Freeform The Mujerista Milca Roja The Center for Cultural Power Natural Resources Defense Center
Exhibitions
2023 Group Exhibition - Mamá Said: A Reflection on Maternal Figures. Latino Arts. Milwaukee, WI
2020 Solo Exhibition - In the Name Of…?. Galería de la Raza. San Francisco, CA
2019 Collective Exhibition - Cómplices en la Resistencia. Juan R. Fuentes Gallery. San Francisco, CA
2019 Collective Exhibition - Reclamisíon. Brava Theater for Women in the Arts. San Francisco,CA
2018 Solo Exhibition - Lata America. SOMArts Ramp Gallery. San Francisco, CA.
Publications
2019 El Tecolote Newspaper Vol. 49 No.08