Color Is Happiness: The Bold Geometry of Los Pepes Studio

Portuguese duo Meggie Prata and Francisco Leal, working together as Los Pepes Studio, have spent the better part of a decade turning blank walls, floors and overlooked objects into bursts of geometric color.

Also known as the “Gangsters of Love,” they use bold shapes, playful symbols and euphoric palettes to create murals that feel instantly uplifting. Smiley faces, hearts, flowers, suns, moons, abstract figures and fantastical animals appear across their projects, often arranged like oversized patchworks of pattern and personality. Their pieces can wrap around buildings, stretch across courts or stand as sculptural panels in playgrounds, always bringing joy and movement to the surrounding architecture.

The strong graphic quality of their work is shaped by both spray-painted street art and digitally rendered design. In their own words, “color is happiness,” and that idea runs through everything they create, turning public spaces into bright, generous moments of visual optimism.

For more of the duo’s work, visit their website and follow them on Instagram.

More street art More illustrations