Jose Sabate, more commonly known as El Pez (b. 1976, Barcelona, Spain), draws on graffiti and Pop Art for inspiration, harnessing his background as a street artist to create a body of work that is instantly recognizable. His grinning fish motif is ubiquitous in his work, appearing in a myriad of colors and patterns, yet always with the signature smile. El Pez’s own unofficial slogan is “smiling since 1999,” in reference to the year he began painting in the streets of Barcelona. El Pez, which translates to “fish,” is an alter-ego that inspires and spreads positivity.

Currently, the artist is based out of Bogota, Colombia, where he finds inspiration in the country’s folklore, nature, and people. In the past few years, El Pez has exhibited in Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, London, Berlin, Vienna, Oslo, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bogota, and Dubai. He has also stayed true to his roots as a street artist, spending time out of the studio tagging the streets and painting murals across the world. The artist had a cameo in the Banksy documentary film Exit Through the Gift Shop, and he has worked with major brands such as Adidas, Toyota, and Reebok. El Pez has participated in numerous group shows, been the subject of several solo shows since 2018, and since 2021 has participated in art fairs across the United States.