Sam Grudge

Sam Grudge paints hearts as reminders to care for one another. An American artist based in Tervuren, Belgium, he returns to this familiar shape to explore warmth, belonging, hope and the ways we live together. His aim is simple: hearts on walls around the world, making kindness visible in everyday life.

Working with vivid colour, texture and the marks of the brush, Sam gives each heart a different character. Some are quiet and tender; others are bold, playful or full of movement. Across the paintings, the heart becomes a starting point for a story rather than a single fixed symbol. He wants the work to keep offering something to the person who lives with it, long after the first glance.

Sam is self-taught. Before painting became central to his life, he spent three decades in creative engineering and digital product design, collaborating with organisations including LEGO, Disney, Bang & Olufsen and Activision Blizzard. That curiosity and willingness to experiment continue in the studio, where a simple idea can lead in an unexpected direction.

His work is grounded in three values: humanity, respect and care. Through paintings and work in public spaces, he hopes to bring a little encouragement into ordinary days and make room f...