EL PEZ
El Pez (aka Jose Sabate) was born in 1976 in Barcelona, where he learned to paint and started doing graffiti, quickly developing his characters and the "Barcelona Happy Style" – his signature aesthetic, instantly recognizable by way of his grinning, giddy fish creatures, some with stars in their eyes. He is, in fact, known to friends as "the smiling fish" (Pez is fish in Spanish), and his artwork is full of joy and color, a celebration of the school of life. His unofficial slogan reads: "Smiling since 1999."
"My [smiling fish] character is born from experimentation, comics, ska-punk, freedom, LSD, marijuana; a character who smiles because he laughs at anti-graffiti laws," Pez says. "He is free and happy because he does what he wants (like me!)." Pez went from painting the streets to showing in galleries practically overnight, but the streets are still where his heart is; "Right now, one of my favorite places to paint is Miami. I love to walk around Wynwood during Art Basel week, hang out with friends, join the parties and festivals, paint walls, eat good food, exhibit my work, and have fun every day."
Pez is remarkably prolific, and his insatiable passion for life resonates in every scene (and smile) he paints. In addition to the large-scale murals he has created across Spain, Colombia, London, Miami, Amsterdam, and Oslo, he has also been featured in numerous prominent publications dedicated to urban art, including The Art of Rebellion: The World of Street Art, Graffiti World: Street Art from Five Continents, and Carnet de Rue by JR.
In 2007, as part of the K-Swiss Tour, Pez traveled across Asia, painting murals in cities such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, and Taipei. He has exhibited his work in various street art museums and galleries in over 20 countries, as well as at art fairs like the Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair. His signature "Barcelona Happy Style" has left a lasting impact, spreading joy and smiles to millions around the world.
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