SAN FRANCISCO (September 30, 2025) – Mayor Daniel Lurie and the Sijbrandij Foundation announced today the launch of Big Art Loop, an initiative that plans to bring up to 100 temporary large-scale sculptures to San Francisco over the next three years. The Big Art Loop will form a walkable and bikeable trail around the city, transforming public spaces into an open-air gallery for everyone to enjoy.

Big Art Loop is founded and funded by the Sijbrandij Foundation, with curation and operations led by Building 180. With eight Big Art installations already complete, and another twelve in process through 2025, the Sijbrandij Foundation has already spent over $2 million in the initiative’s first year. Big Art Loop brings public art into daily life to encourage civic engagement by working with city and community partners, including the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (Rec and Park), the Port of San Francisco (the Port), San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC), Mid-Market Foundation, Illuminate, and Friends of Sunset Dunes.

“Arts and culture events are fueling San Francisco's comeback,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “Big Art Loop will bring creativity into our neighborhoods, connect people through activated public spaces, and drive our economy. Thank you to the Sijbrandij Foundation for launching this initiative that will bring vibrancy and culture to neighborhoods across our city.”

“San Francisco has given us so much for more than a decade, and we want to give back to this beautiful city,” said Sid and Karen Sijbrandij, founders of the Sijbrandij Foundation.

“We believe Big Art belongs outside in public spaces, not in warehouses, where it can spark conversation, create connection, and bring new life to our neighborhoods.”

Unlike traditional public art programs that commission new work, the Big Art Loop brings existing sculptures out of storage and into neighborhoods, making them accessible to everyone. Artworks are selected through an open call for artists and collaborative review with city agencies. Every installation meets strict safety and engineering requirements that follow the city’s established approval process for temporary public art in coordination with the SFAC, the Port, or Rec and Park.

Since late 2024, Big Art Loop has installed eight sculptures across the city, each going through the proper public processes for review and approval, including:

• Coralee by Dana Albany at Pier ½, in partnership with the Port
• R-Evolution by Marco Cochrane at Embarcadero Plaza, in partnership with Rec and Park (named a ‘#1 not-to-miss’ experience by the Los Angeles Times)
• Heartfulness by Katy Boynton at 950 Market, in partnership with Mid-Market Foundation (Mid-Market’s first large-scale sculpture)
• Rockspinner by Zachary Coffin, Octavius by Peter Hazel (“A park centerpiece and wayfinding point” - San Francisco Chronicle), and Giraffes by Martin Taylor, along Sunset Dunes, in partnership with SFRPD and Friends of Sunset Dunes
• Naga and the Captainess by Cjay Roughgarden, Jacquelyn Scott, and Stephanie Shipman (the largest piece of public art in the park’s history), and Tires to Totems by Betsabeé Romero in Golden Gate Park, in partnership with SFRPD and Illuminate as part of the Golden Mile activation

"Coralee was born from wonderful collaboration and community. We worked with local schoolchildren in England who helped craft her glass scales from recycled bottles,” said artist Dana Albany. “As a San Francisco artist, I'm excited to see how she'll transform the waterfront and inspire new conversations. Being part of this open-air gallery across the city feels like the perfect next chapter for her story."

New installations are underway with additional partnerships and locations to be announced.

“Public art doesn’t just beautify our streets—it brings people together, supports local businesses and jobs, and inspires a sense of wonder and civic pride,” said Anne Taupier, Director of OEWD. “This is the kind of ambitious, public-private collaboration that makes San Francisco a world-class city for culture and creativity. San Francisco is also an

incredibly active city, and I know people will love lacing up their tennis shoes and jumping on their bikes to check out these incredible installations.”

“Public art and parks are a natural fit. Parks give us space to breathe, play, and connect, and art brings an extra spark of joy and surprise,” said Phil Ginsburg, General Manager of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. “That’s why the Big Art Loop is so exciting, it turns our public spaces into a citywide gallery, making San Francisco feel more vibrant and alive than ever.”

“The Port is thrilled to host more than a dozen Big Art Loop pieces along the waterfront,” said Michael Martin, Acting Executive Director of the Port of San Francisco. “We applaud Mayor Lurie and the Sijbrandij Foundation for their commitment to enriching our communities through public art. These installations bring fresh energy and visual intrigue, advancing Port efforts to keep the waterfront a dynamic, creative, and welcoming destination for all.”

“San Francisco has a proud tradition of commissioning monumental permanent works of art while also welcoming temporary installations that enliven our neighborhoods and invite residents and visitors to see the city in new ways,” said Ralph Remington, Director of Cultural Affairs. “We are thrilled to be a City partner on Big Art Loop, which reimagines San Francisco itself as a dynamic and accessible open-air gallery. This visionary investment reflects the city’s deep dedication to creativity, and we thank the Sijbrandij Foundation and Mayor Lurie for their commitment to and support of the arts, showcasing how public and private partnerships like this can help strengthen San Francisco’s art and cultural landscape for all.”

###