Mission Mural History

Murals of the Mission

The Mission District is famous for its murals, huge painted scenes on the walls and facades of buildings, which are part of a long established tradition in our city. There are nearly 600 murals in San Francisco, with the richest concentration in this neighborhood.

Throughout the world, there have been murals on walls as long as there have been people to paint them, since the earliest pre-historic cave paintings. Murals from ancient civilizations in Egypt, Greece, Rome, Australia and India, as well as North and South America still remind us of this art form.

Murals have always been a part of the Mexican community, and there has been a recent (20th Century) Mexican tradition of monumental public art celebrating history and cultural heritage. When the Mexican government encouraged and supported this kind of muralism, and "Los Tres Grandes" - Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, and David Siquieros - gained prominence as acclaimed masters of mural painting.

The Chicano (Mexican - American) and civil rights movements of the 1960's inspired a new generation of muralists to rediscover the the works of Los Tres Grandes and indigenous heritage continuing the tradition of monumental art addressing social and political issues, with themes of culture and community.

The Mission District of San Francisco has been a predominately Latino neighborhood since the 1970's. Early in that decade, Mission muralists began collaborating on group mural projects, and a community mural movement was born. This movement was strongly led by neighborhood artists and women's mural collectives such as Mujeres Muralistas, whose works began to appear on walls throughout San Francisco at this time.

In 1971, community muralists began creating a unique mural environment in Balmy Alley. The walls of this tiny street feature some of the older Mission District murals, including early work by members of Mujeres Muralistas. Many of the PLACA murals are still here as well ("Placa" means to make a mark, to leave a sign, to speak out, to have image call for a response). PLACA was a group of 40 concerned muralists who in 1984, created a stunning and evocative series of 28 murals that continue to speak out against U.S. intervention and for peace in Central America.

Newer Balmy Alley murals embrace several different styles of spray can work; a relief mural made with plywood cut-outs; mural portraits of the icons of Mexican art; and recentlt, a beautifully painted tribute to Mujeres Muralistas.

Community murals are painted by and for the community whose walls they enhance. Whether they espouse political views, family values, cultural pride, or historic events, they reflect the needs, hopes and dreams of the community members who paint them.