What is

Gambuzino?

The word Gambuzino, in Portuguese, could be described as an imaginary creature. The expression "hunting Gambuzinos" is often used to tell children or naive people to look for something that doesn't exist and, although this word is well known, there is no consensus as to the appearance of this mythical being. We could say that this animal only exists in our minds. 


Gambuzino is also the chosen name for Margarida Eloy’s  alter ego, a safe mask that allows an anxious person to share her quirky doodles with the world. In her work you can see mostly digital illustrations, that use analogue textures and a naive aesthetic filled with soft colours and happy vibes. Her favourite subjects are cute animals and happy humans surrounded by plants, celebrating nature and kindness. 

Biography


Margarida Eloy was born in 1993 in Almada.  She attended the Audiovisuals course at the António Arroio Artistic Secondary School, completed a degree in Photography and Visual Culture from IADE University, and a master's degree in Criticism, Curatorship, and Art Theories from Lisbon’s Fine Arts University. Despite her strong passion for these fields of study, it was in illustration that she found her path. Today, she is a freelancer and divides her time between illustrating children’s books and commissioned work, doing solo and collective exhibitions, selling her products at craft markets and mediating art workshops for adults and children.

Besides enjoying doodling, Margarida spends her free time watching movies with her husband and two rabbits, reading, and walking in nature.

Galleries and Stores

Exhibitions & Events

2025

  • Casa Inventada toy workshop at Bertrand Barreiro. Bertand Livreiros, Lisboa. July 19th 2025

  • Esculturas e Bicharocos - Sculpture Workshop at Ambiente no Parque Festival. Parque Urbano de Rana - Câmara Municipal de Cascais. Cascais. July 5th 2025

  • Oficina de Gambuzinos: Escultura de Animais Imaginários - Sculpture Workshop. Livraria Inquieta, Lisboa. June 7th 2025

  • Casa Inventada toy workshop at Bertrand UBBO. Bertand Livreiros, Lisboa. April 26th 2025

  • Live Mural Painting, Eatery 119, Porto. March 3rd-7th 2025

2024​

  • Live Christmas Postcard Painting, El Corte Ingles, Lisboa. December 17th - 20th 2024

  • Animais Geométricos Illustration Workshop at Braga em Risco Festival. Quinta Pedagógica de Braga - Câmara Municipal de Braga, Braga. November 4th 2024

  • Collective exhibition Braga Infinita at Braga em Risco Festival. Quinta Pedagógica de Braga - Câmara Municipal de Braga, Braga. November 3rd 2024

  • Braga em Risco Illustration Market. Quartel dos Bombeiros de Braga - Câmara Municipal de Braga, Braga. November 2nd 2024

  • Collective exhibition 22x22 at Braga em Risco Festival. Quartel dos Bombeiros de Braga - Câmara Municipal de Braga, Braga. November 2nd 2024

  • Create your monster! Paper puppets workshop at Quinta do Pisão - Câmara Municipal de Cascais, Cascais. October 26th 2023

  • Criaturas de Susto Mask workshop at FUFU Atelier, Lisboa. October 26th 2024

  • No Meu Autocarro postcard workshop & Autocarro Ilustrado toy workshop at Village Underground, Lisboa. May 4th 2024 

  • Inventar a Liberdade! optical illusion workshop at FUFU, Lisboa. April 1st 2024

  • Selected Artist for the Solidarity Monthly Cause Cuidar do Planeta. Liga para a Proteção da Natureza & Galeria Padaria Águas Furtadas, Porto. March 2024

  • Bordalo Carnavalesco mask workshop at Museu Bordalo Pinheiro - EGEAC, Lisboa. February 13rd 2024

  • Este Carnaval quero ser… book toy workshop at FUFU, Lisboa. February 10th 2024 

  • Solo Exhibition Hide Hide / Esconde Esconde at Ó!Galeria, Porto. February 2024

  • Caras, Caritas e Caretas colography printing workshop at FUFU, Lisboa. January 20th 2024

  • Pop Up à Moda de Bordalo Postcard workshop at Museu Bordalo Pinheiro- EGEAC, Lisboa. January 6th 2024

​2023

  • Christmas Pop Up Postcards Workshop at FUFU, Lisboa. November & December 2023

  • Solo Exhibition How to draw a morning: visual poem with lavender scent / Como desenhar uma manhã: poema visual com cheiro a lavanda at Cor Própria, Porto. November 2023

  • Create your monster! Paper puppets workshop at FUFU, Lisboa. October 28th 2023

  • BOO! Pop-Up postcards workshop at Bailarico, Lisboa. October 14th 2023

  • Accidental Drawing workshop for all ages at Lisbon Vegan Market, Lisboa. September 14th 2023

  • Autónoma Illustration Market, Almada. August 8th and 9th 2023

  • Paper Puppets Workshop at Lanchonete Benfica, Lisboa. August 4th 2023

  • Feira da Alegria Illustration Market at FBAUP, Porto. June 2023

  • Art wokshops for children at Kindergarden Baloiço, Almada. May 2023

  • Collage workshops for children inspired by the book Bichos que Contam, at Didatic - Príncipe Real, Lisboa. May 2023

  • Bichos que Contam Book Launch , at Didatic - Príncipe Real, Lisboa. May 2023

  • Collective Exhibition Walls of Freedom, at Galeria Padaria Águas Furtadas. Porto, April 2023

  • Collective Exhibition Feel the Spring, Galeria Padaria Águas Furtadas. Porto, March 2023

  • Collective Exhibition Put Your Mask, Galeria Padaria Águas Furtadas. Porto, February 2023

  • Collective Exhibition Rainbow: Love is Everywhere, Galeria Padaria Águas Furtadas. Porto, February 2023

2022

  • Collective Exhibition Your Christmas Ornament Galeria Padaria Águas Furtadas. Porto, December 2022

  • Collective Exhibition Funny Christmas, Galeria Padaria Águas Furtadas. Porto, December 2022

  • Collective Show and Christmas Market  BAZAAAAAAR, Casa das Artes Bissaya Barreto. Coimbra, December 2022

  • Solidarity Calendar for Associação de Animais de Rua, Paws Collective. Portugal, November 2022

  • Selected Artist for the Monthly Cause Animal Abandonment. Associação Midas & Galeria Padaria Águas Furtadas. Porto, August 2022

  • Riso Market by Mago Print Studio, Casa Capitão. Lisboa, 28 - 29 August 2022

  • Solo Exhibition As Coisas Simples / The Simple Things, Galeria Padaria águas Furtadas. Porto, June 2022

  • Solo Exhibition As Coisas Simples / The Simple Things, Joia Galeria. Lisboa, June 2022

  • Collective Exhibition A6 x Muitos, curated by Ó! Galeria at LU.CA - Teatro Luís de Camões. Lisboa, June 2022

  • Collective Exhibition Surroundings by Mago Studio, Galeria Gama Rama, Faro, 28 April - 23 July

  • Collective Exhibition Take Me Galeria Padaria Águas Furtadas. Porto, April - July 2022

  • Collective Exhibition Fala-me de Liberdade Galeria Padaria Águas Furtadas. Porto, April 2022

  • Collective Exhibition Veste o Animal Selvagem Que Há Em Ti Galeria Padaria Águas Furtadas. Porto, February 2022

2021

  • Solidary Sale for the Animal Shelter AmorEmpatia. Collaboration with the artists Pedro Days, Sara Lou and Geo Batistella for AmorEmpatia. Portugal, December 2021

  •  Collective Exhibition Love Letters, Ó! Galeria. Porto, December 2021

  •  Collective Exhibition Natal - Árvore dos Desejos, Galeria Padaria Águas Furtadas. Porto, December 2021

  •  Collective Exhibition No Man is an Island, Ó! Galeria. Porto, August 2021

  • Collective Exhibition Playlist - Roadtrip Edition, Galeria Padaria Águas Furtadas. Porto, June 2021

  • Collective Exhibition FLASH!, Ó! Galeria. Porto, 7 - 13 May 2021

  • Collective Exhibition Let’s Play, Galeria Padaria Águas Furtadas. Porto, May 2021

  • Take Over By Gambuzino, Ó! Galeria’s Instagram, 27 March 2021

  • Collective Exhibition Mulheres Inspiradoras, Galeria Padaria Águas Furtadas. Porto, March 2021

  • Collective Exhibition Be My Valentine, Galeria Padaria Águas Furtadas. Porto, February 2021

2020

  • Collective Exhibition All I Want For Christmas, Galeria Padaria Águas Furtadas. Porto, December 2020

  • Collective Exhibition Doce ou Travessura. Galeria Padaria Águas Furtadas. Porto, October - November 2020

  • Auction and Collective Exhibition Vai Ficar Tudo Bem. Galeria Padaria Águas Furtadas, April 2020

2016

  •  Collective Exhibition of Plastic Arts ADAO OPEN DAY 6.0, ADAO. Barreiro, November 2016

2015

  • XMAS Market Feira das Almas. Lisboa, December 2015

  • Collective Exhibition of Plastic Arts 7 Saias 7 Histórias, Galeria Via Ideia. Azeitão, de 21 November 17 December 2015

  • Collective Exhibition of Illustration SADILYN x NEREU x ELOY, Espaço Arte Jovem. Miratejo, September 2015

Press & Publications