San Francisco Murals
April 30, 2020One of the most underrated aspects of living in San Francisco is the abundance of murals and public art spread across SF’s many great neighborhoods. No matter which area of The City you call home, there are opportunities to see nearby San Francisco murals! Let’s take a stroll through some of SF’s most iconic locations to see where you can find murals near your San Francisco apartment.
SoMa
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Home to the design district and some of San Francisco’s most innovative companies, it makes sense that SoMa boasts so many murals. Some of our favorites can be found at 498 Minna Street, 643 7th, 8th & Harrison, and of course, the Rick and Morty Mural at 199 Taber Place. You can also catch a glimpse of this now well-known “Truth” mural, along with an assortment of other murals, right around the corner from your beautiful home at Trinity Place! A full list of every San Francisco mural is also available.
Civic Center
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San Francisco’s Civic Center neighborhood has seen constant development in recent years, with plenty of public art being included in every new project. The famed Bill Graham Auditorium is now covered in a neon mural known as Word Family Tree, the first permanent art installation on a historic building in the United States. Currently, another major art installation is in the works for the area, while the Civic Center Plaza often hosts an array of rotating public art. Tons of local street art can also be found in the Polk Gulch alleyways such as Olive and Hemlock Street near Trinity Towers and at the corner of O’Farrell and Hyde, as shown above.
The Marina
Cherished for its natural beauty and bustling nightlife, the most famous work of public art in The Marina is certainly The Palace of Fine Arts. While murals are few and far between, you can find one across from Fort Mason next door to the Marina Cove Apartments at Safeway. The famed Marina Safeway has garnered quite a reputation for attracting mingling singles over the years but also has displayed the World Sources of Food mural since 1959. Another more hidden mural aptly titled, Paintings on the Wall, can also be found in The Marina at the corner of Baker and Greenwich.
Pacific Heights
Residents of beautiful Pac-Heights locations such as 2000 Broadway and 1890 Clay are just an easy walk from all the public murals in Western Addition and Lower Pacific Heights. Additionally, a plethora of street art, such as this mural at Fillmore and Haight, can be found in the closeby Fillmore District near the 2380 California apartments. Some favorites to check out include The Blues Evolution and an untitled mural on Geary Street outside Boom Boom Room.
Russian Hill
It’s hard to call any neighborhood more iconic than San Francisco’s Russian Hill. Usually packed with tourists, this neighborhood is a favorite of those looking to take Instagram photos and share their travels on social media. While many attractions are closed in 2020, catching an uninterrupted glimpse of the new Greetings From SF Mural may be possible for all the interested locals. Another public mural called The Making Of a Fresco Showing The Building Of a City (1931) an be seen just down the street from the 1000 Chesnut Apartments at The Diego Riviera Gallery.
North Beach
The vibrant culture of North Beach makes for more than just fantastic food as this colorful neighborhood is bursting with artistic creations. One local favorite for residents of the Crystal Tower apartments includes the lovely Columbus Cafe Mural just outside the front gate on Lombard Street. As you make your way further downtown towards Broadway Street and Telegraph Hill, you also can’t miss the massive Jazz Mural on top of the New Sun Hong Hong Restaraunt and the Chinatown Mural at Portsmouth Square.
The Mission & Castro
Truly the capital of San Francisco Street Art, The Mission District is home to over 500 city-sanctioned public murals. Many of these murals were painted in formerly deserted or underutilized areas, and have indeed done wonders to the neighborhood in providing authentic creations by local artists. Today, The Mission and Castro and two of The City’s most coveted neighborhoods and the 240 Dolores Apartments are located right between the two. The Mission’s most popular murals include Clarion Alley Street Art, The Cypress Street Murals, and El Capitan Murals. If you’re looking for art in The Castro, your first stop should undoubtedly be The Rainbow Crosswalk at 18th and Castro.
The Richmond
Locals of the often foggy Richmond District are no stranger to gray skies, but also have a passion for public art and murals. Two of the neighborhood’s largest grocery chains, Safeway and Grocery Outlet, each offer their own mural on the side of their Richmond location. So while you thank the essential grocery workers for helping keep our fridges full, you can also take a peek at the lovely art outside. A few of the neighborhoods other murals include Mr. Foggy’s Neighborhood, Educate to Liberate, and the Green Apple Books Mural
The Sunset
South of Golden Gate Park, the hills of San Francisco’s Sunset District provide scenic vistas of the sun setting across the ocean. One of the best views can be found at Grandview Park, which is accessible by three different sets of painted tile steps known as the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps, Moraga Stairs, and Hidden Garden Steps. Although tiring, making the trek up these stairs is well worth the effort. You can also find a couple of local murals at lower elevation located at Woodside International School Mural and Irving and 25th. No matter where you are in SF, there is art all around you!
