History of the Art Form in San Francisco

     Once I became interested in the art that surrounded me in the city, I felt the need to learn the history behind the creation of the murals here.

      Murals are not a new concept or style of art; they were produced by cave people, and are still being created in our day and age. “Murals have been painted in many ways for many reasons under varying conditions - social, political, economic, and aesthetic – for tens of thousands of years.” (Drescher,pg 9) Today’s murals may differ in content from the murals of the ancient past, but they still play a major role in the communities in which they are created. “California’s mural tradition dates back hundreds of years, before Europeans first landed on its shores, back to a time when native peoples, such as the Chumash and Yokuts, used cave walls and other rock surfaces as giant canvases for their rituals and beliefs.” (Dunitz. pg 7) San Francisco, one of California’s more prominent cities, is best known for its murals that are often politically or socially motivated. The city has been said to support the highest per capita output of murals in the world. (Drescher,pg 7) This doesn’t mean that they are always easy to find or supported by all viewers. “San Francisco boasts a rich and potent street art scene but to discover it, you’ve got to venture beyond the predictable tourist landscape of cable cars and foggy Fisherman’s Wharf. The real action is in the sunny alleys and side streets of The Haight, The Tenderloin, South of Market and, most impressively, the historic Mission District.” (Rotman)      

Drescher, Tim. "Murals: From Cave to Contemporary." San Francisco Murals: Community Creates Its Muse, 1914-1990. St. Paul: Pogo, 1991. 7+. Print.

Dunitz, Robin J., and James Prigoff. "California Mural Traditions." Painting the Towns: Murals of California. Los Angeles: RJD Enterprises, 1997. 6+. Print.

Rotman, Steve. Introduction. San Francisco Street Art. Munich: Prestel, 2009. N. pag. Print.

Murals of the past:

American Indian Art:

Ancient Egyptian Art:

Current Murals:

San Francisco:

     Murals function to provide free art to the public. This is important because many street artists use the urban landscape as their medium of choice as they don’t want their pieces being confined to a museum. These artists want their works to be accessible to the public so they are created in a public space for everyone to view and admire. Street art functions the same way that any other art in a gallery or a museum would, it appeals to the viewer’s emotions, it focuses on social and political issues and most of all it can empower people to think about the human condition. 

     One thing that makes street art very different from the art that is in galleries and museums is that it isn't made to last forever. Many pieces are often painted over by the owners of the building or walls, painted over by other graffiti artists or even destroyed when the structures that they are painted on are taken down. Although this may seem horrible to most, street artists know that their work will, more than likely, not last forever. Their work is put there to be seen, appreciated, and eventually painted over and taken down. Below are some real life examples of murals being defaced or destroyed.

     If you are in the mood to venture into the city and move past the usual tourist spots you can find some of the beautiful murals that cover the walls and buildings of San Francisco. Attached are some links that will show you where many of the murals are located by neighborhood as well as give you a route that you can take through the Mission district to see the art there. Also, a company called Precita Eyes Muralists offers guided tours through different areas in the Mission.     

Mural Locations By Neighborhood
Mission Mural Tour Route
Guided Mural Tours