Long before Banksy created political pieces in the Gaza Strip, there was Rigo.
A lot of great things in San Francisco are created by people who move here and really fall in love with the city. San Francisco is a haven for muralists. Works by Diego Rivera are are almost sacred. Ricardo Gouveia, aka Rigo, created some of the best modern works of public art.
As an artsy urban kid, I really appreciated his use of mundane, everyday images, like a one way street sign, to convey subtle and powerful messages. The first time I saw Birds and Cars, I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I still like it a lot.
You can find most of his work in the Tenderloin and SOMA.
Other great pieces around the city include:
- Inner City Home on 4th Street at Clementina;
- One Tree at 10th and Bryant Streets
- Truth at 7th and Market is dedicated to Robert King Wilkerson, a former Black Panther who was exonerated after being held in prison for almost 30 years.
He's represented by Anglim Gilbert Gallery on Geary Street near Union Square.
16th street at Bryant
US$
free
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