SMATES is a Belgian street artist who studied graphic design at Sint-Lukas in Brussels.
Having always had a passion for realistic drawing and painting, he decided to take two years of painting classes after completing his studies.

At the age of 17 or 18, he started experimenting with graffiti, a passion he continued until he was 22. There wasn’t a specific reason for stopping — but in July 2009, he picked it up again.
After working part-time as a graffiti artist for several years, he decided to take the leap and has been working full-time as a street artist since September 2013.

Smates finds inspiration in his surroundings or in the shape and character of the wall itself. He aims to create pieces that interact with the space, often playing with depth, perspective, and 3D illusions.

Smates has left his mark in the UK, Malta, and of course Belgium, and hopes to expand his reach with larger walls and new countries in the future.