Nomadic Circus
Design & Illustration Studio in Santa Fe,
New Mexico
Nomadic Circus is a design, illustration, and visual storytelling studio led by Gatis Cirulis — an artist, designer, and educator based in Santa Fe, NM.
We create thoughtful, culturally rooted, and visually engaging work across branding, illustration, UI/UX, book design, letterpress, and murals for local and worldwide clients.
Our practice combines traditional craftsmanship, fine art, and strategic design thinking to build visual systems that communicate clearly across cultures and mediums.
Things that look good, work good.
Design Philosophy
We make complex thing beautiful
We believe in universal visual language — symbols, shapes, and forms that speak across culture and time.
Our work is grounded in:
Harmony of structure and intuition
Blending traditional craft with modern tools
Cultural sensitivity and cross-border storytelling
Precision, clarity, and emotional resonance
Nomadic Circus creates work that feels timeless, intentional, and uniquely human.
Clients & Collaborators
We collaborate with individuals, small businesses, non-profits, publishers, educators, and creative studios. Our projects range from heritage design and book illustration to brand systems, murals, and digital interfaces.
What
We Do
Gatis has designed for individuals, agencies, and organizations in the United States and Europe since 2000.
Design Systems
Clarity, structure, hierarchy, and accessibility.
We build visual systems that scale — from brand foundations to full multi-platform ecosystems.
Illustration & Visual Storytelling
Surreal, symbolic, narrative-driven illustration for editorial, branding, books, packaging, and site-specific commissions.
We create worlds rooted in metaphor, history, and emotional connection.
Branding & Identity
Logos, identity systems, typography, visual language, and brand guidelines crafted with precision and long-term usability.
UI/UX & Digital Design
Interface design, prototypes, user flows, interaction concepts, and digital systems with a focus on clarity, inclusivity, and visual logic.
Publication & Book Design
Print and digital publications, catalogs, visual essays, and editorial layouts with attention to pacing, typography, and narrative flow.
Book Arts & Letterpress
Traditional craft methods including letterpress, hand-bound books, and experimental printed artifacts.
Blending analog texture with contemporary design.
Murals & Large-Scale Illustration
Site-specific artworks, cultural storytelling, architectural illustration, and immersive visual environments.
Teaching & Creative Development
Instruction in drawing, painting, visual structure, and digital art.
Workshops and mentorship for art students, creatives, and organizations.
About Gatis
Gatis Cirulis is a Latvian-born artist, designer, illustrator, and educator based in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
His practice spans fine art, graphic design, digital media, book arts, and architectural-scale illustration.
His work has appeared in public exhibitions, cultural projects, international collaborations, and educational programs across Europe and North America.
Gatis teaches drawing, painting, and digital art, focusing on visual fundamentals, creative development, and artistic confidence.
Location & Availability
Based in Santa Fe, NM — working locally and internationally
Available for:
Illustration
Branding & design systems
UI/UX & digital design
Book arts & letterpress
Murals
Workshops & teaching
Resume
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Freelance Design & Illustration Consultant
Nomadic Circus
Self-Employed | Remote & Santa Fe, NM
2001 – Present
Directed and managed all facets of a design studio, producing original artwork, illustration, and branding for 15+ clients across the art, technology, and non-profit sectors.
Specialized in Technical and Instructional Illustration and high-fidelity prepress execution for major print collateral and large-scale fabrication.
Collaborated remotely with producers on 2D animation and motion graphics, successfully integrating assets into digital campaigns and interactive experiences.
Secured multiple design awards for independent work, including Best of Show and Gold ADDY recognition.
Adjunct Professor, Art and Design
Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) | Santa Fe, NM
2016 – Present
Developed and instructed over 20 distinct studio courses (including: Typography, Interactive Design, 3D Printing, Laser cutting, Illustration, Drawing), focused on both fundamental principles and modern digital workflows.
Mentored students on portfolio development and career readiness, resulting in improved graduation outcomes.
Experience Designer 2
Ideum | Albuquerque, NM
2023 – 2025
Designed and prototyped 14 immersive, multi-touch interactive exhibits for major museums, resulting in a 35% increase in average visitor engagement.
Developed custom UI/UX frameworks and visual assets, illustrations, animations for interactive installations, balancing cutting-edge technology with accessibility standards.
Managed the full design lifecycle from concept ideation through final deployment and quality assurance on large-scale public art projects.
Art Director
Firefly Strategies | Santa Fe, NM
2018 – 2020
Directed all branding, print, and digital marketing collateral, overseeing creative execution and project management from initial concept to final client sign-off.
Windgate Project Manager, Cataloging Collections
Hamilton Museum of Wood Type and Printing | Two Rivers, WI
2019
Managed the professional cataloging and archiving of extensive historical collections, preserving large scale wood cut plates and wood type for educational and research purposes.
Art Director & Illustrator
Golden Shovel Agency | Little Falls, MN
2014 – 2018
Led the conceptualization and design of brand-consistent web experiences and marketing collateral for clients in the economic development sector.
Directed the visual aesthetic and layout for complex website projects, coordinating design efforts to meet client deadlines and agency standards.
Ensured all digital design deliverables met industry standards, including WCAG 2.1 AA-level accessibility and responsive framework requirements.
Visiting Professor and Adjunct Professor
New Mexico State University | Las Cruces, NM
2012 – 2016
Taught university-level courses in visual arts and design.
Leading undergraduate and graduate-level courses in graphic design, with a focus on experience design, typography, illustration, and design theory.
Assisted in running graphic design department and fabrication lab.
Art Director
Jelgavnikiem, Magazine | Jelgava, Latvia
2009 – 2010
Art Director
Dienas Biznes, Financial and News Magazine | Riga, Latvia
2008 – 2009
Art Director
McCann Riga, Marketing and Ad Agency | Riga, Latvia
2007 – 2008
Designer & Illustrator
Brainmagnet, Graphic Design Agency | St. Cloud, MN,
2004 – 2006
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Design Expertise:
Typography (Vast Typography), Technical Illustration, Instructional Illustration, 2D Animation, UI/UX, Print Production (Pre-Press), Branding, Interactive Exhibit Design, Publication Design.
Software:
Adobe CC (InDesign, Acrobat, Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects, Fresco), Figma, Procreate, Laser Cutter Operation, 3D Modeling (Basic).
Tools:
Letterpress, Paper Making, Bookbinding
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Lürzer's Archive Special: 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide.
Best of Show (2x): MAX Awards and AMFCM ADDY Awards.
Gold ADDY Awards (3x): Recognized for excellence in web design, illustration, and collateral.
LogoLounge Master Library Series.
San Francisco International Wine Competition, Silver Medal.
Sara J. Irvine Book Award.
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M.F.A., Graphic Design
Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, INB.F.A., Visual Arts
St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN
Let’s
Work Together
Tell us about your project, idea, or collaboration.
We’ll help shape it into a clear, intentional visual solution.