One thing you should know about us is that we can’t resist street art, especially murals.
Street art is my favorite thing to seek out when we visit a new place. I love the vivid colors, unique styles, and approaches. And the artistic interpretations of social and historical commentary. I’ve always admired those with the ability to create, tell stories, and depict important events and ideas through an artistic medium.
There are many options to see street art. You can go on a free or paid walking tour. There are free or paid self-guided tour resources available online. Or you can do as we often do: Research top areas and guide yourself. Sometimes the best murals are ones you won’t hear about ahead of time. They are ones you stumble upon accidentally while keeping your eyes peeled and your feet moving.
We love street art so much we’ve named it number 5 in our Most Amazing Things to Do in San Francisco post.
San Francisco’s Colorful Streets: A Guide to Mission District Murals
San Francisco has over 1,000 murals and other artworks scattered throughout the city. The largest concentration is in the Mission District. We spent the majority of our time exploring the artworks here. Balmy Alley off of 24th Street, and Clarion Alley between Mission and Valencia Streets are full of incredible pieces. There is no shortage of artwork down every street, avenue, and alleyway. In particular, we visited Osage Alley, Lilac Street, Lucky Street, and Cypress Street. The best thing is these open-air art galleries are available and accessible to everyone.
Mural Culture History
The mural culture in the Mission District dates back to the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. A rise in counterculture movements and civil rights activism led to an increase in creative expression. In San Francisco, this took the form of politically charged murals and street art. The “Mexican Muralismo” tradition serves as inspiration. Artists in Mexico began depicting Mexico’s past, present, and future in public spaces in an attempt to inform understanding of the nation’s socio-political history. The intent was to make art accessible to everyone, to capture the attention of the masses, and to encourage change.
Balmy Alley Murals
Balmy Alley, often known as the heart of the Mission District’s street art scene, is a one-block-long alley showcasing over 30 detailed murals by various artists. It was established in the mid-1980s in response to political turmoil in Central America with vibrantly colored murals depicting themes of social justice, human rights, cultural pride, community resilience, and environmental issues.
The Clarion Alley Mural Project
The Clarion Alley Mural Project (CAMP), was established in 1992 by residents of the Alley and Mission District. Their mission is to support and produce socially engaged and diverse artwork on a variety of societal and political issues such as homelessness, gentrification, and police brutality.
This was by far the most emotionally charged, intelligent, eye-opening, and thought-provoking collection of murals we’ve seen. It’s a lesson in social injustice, human rights issues, climate change, and more, told by people who live in the neighborhood and experience the issues first-hand.
Maestrapeace Mural
After leaving the Clarion Alley Mural Project, we came across the Women’s Building on 18th Street between Linda Street and Lapidge Street, which is a vibrant community center that serves women and girls. Unbeknownst to us at the time, this five-story tall mural, encompassing the entire building, is one of San Francisco’s largest and best-known murals. The internationally recognized Maestrapeace Mural, meaning “woman teacher of peace”, was painted by seven female artists in 1994, celebrating the contributions of women to art, science, and social justice throughout time and around the world.
Murals Galore
The majority of the photos we took are from the Mission District. However, Chinatown and North Beach are two other areas that captured our attention for their spectacular art. San Francisco is a treasure trove with artwork to discover around every corner. The best thing to do is strap on your walking shoes and get out there with eyes wide open.
If you’d like to know more about our experience in San Francisco, read our Travel Stories from San Francisco: A Married Couple’s Memoir
What are your top spots for street art in San Francisco or other parts of the world? Let us know in the comments section below.
