Gang on the Move from the collection of Saint John's On The Lake

About the artist

Guy Buffet

French-American

b. 1943

Guy Buffet was born in the Montparnasse district of Paris, France in 1943. He grew up going with walks with his father, admiring famous landmarks, and listening to stories about artists' works and lives. At 14, Buffet moved to the south of France with his mother, shortly after losing his father at the age of 12. He worked in a restaurant and was inspired by the people and setting around him.

Buffet attended the Beaux Arts School in Toulon before joining the Navy at the age of 18: "The Navy recognized my painting talent by giving me the prestigious assignment to 'paint the world.'" After his time in the Navy, Buffet settled in Hawaii. With support from the Cooke family, he was able to establish a studio and went on to paint major murals commissioned by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

Buffet lived in San Fransisco for 10 years in the 1960s and after moving back and forth from Hawaii, considers himself "The Wandering Artist." He currently lives in the San Fransisco Bay area of California, but is always ready to travel.