About Sidewalk Sam
Born in Cambridge, Robert Guillemin, received his Bachelor of Fine Arts (’62), and later Master of Fine Arts (’67) from Boston University. For a time, Guillemin moved to Paris, studying at the École des Beaux-Arts and working as a copyist of master works at the Louvre. He moved back to Massachusetts to continue his blossoming career, and in 1971 he showed two solo exhibitions–one at the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis, the other at the Institute of Contemporary Art.
The beginning of his career seemed to reveal a man on the traditional artist’s path, but Guillemin was not satisfied with the museum-and-art-gallery way of life he was finding in the art world. The structured art scene allowed for very limited participation or enjoyment of the art for those other than artists. Guillemin wanted to bring art to the streets and show it to anyone and everyone who was walking by. In the summer of 1973 Robert Guillemin began drawing artistic masterpieces, in chalk, on the streets of Boston and Cambridge. He started with the Mona Lisa, and continued painting iconic masterpieces as he chatted with the people who stopped to watch. His new canvas was the streets, his new audience became unlimited, and he took on a new persona: Sidewalk Sam.
Sidewalk Sam was a celebrated Boston-based artist who became famous for recreating European masterpieces with chalk and paint on city sidewalks. Beginning in 1973, he transformed public spaces into galleries, where anyone could experience world-class art. Following a tragic fall in 1994 that left him paralyzed, Sam’s commitment to art and community only grew stronger. He organized large-scale participatory art projects, festivals, and public installations that united people across Boston and beyond. His motto—“Entertain, Inspire, Empower, and Unite”—guided his work and life.
Sidewalk Sam’s art and spirit made him a cultural icon, appearing on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and in The New York Times and People Magazine. He left a mark on the city he loved, reminding us all that art has the power to connect and transform.
We are honored to share the legacy of Sidewalk Sam—beloved Boston artist, community builder, and Friends board member in memoriam—through a special collection of products and events this holiday season.
Read about Friends in The Boston Globe
Purchase Holiday Cards
Bring the joy of art and Boston into your home with our Sidewalk Sam holiday cards, thank you cards, tote bags, mugs, and T-shirts, each featuring the original work of one of Boston’s most iconic artists. Perfect for sending warm wishes or sharing everyday inspiration, these pieces celebrate creativity, community, and the vision of an artist who believed that art belongs to everyone.
Every purchase directly supports Friends of Boston’s Homeless’ mission to help individuals move beyond homelessness into lives of independence and dignity.