Sam Houston Style, the brainchild of Houstorian founder James Glassman, is a portrait of the city’s namesake wearing contemporary sunglasses. Glassman digitally altered the original 1850’s Matthew Brady photograph as a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the famed governor and military leader who looms large in Houston’s history. Sam Houston’s heroic acts and unwavering confidence embody the Houston ethos, and his example continues to inspire the city’s citizens.

The work is part of Downtown District’s Art Blocks Houston temporary art program, the goal of which is to revitalize underutilized areas of the city’s core with creativity that inspires activity and reinvestment.