This week, a new initiative was launched to bring more major art installations to San Francisco. The initiative, fittingly called Big Art Loop, is helmed by the Sijbrandij Foundation and Building 180. Over the next three years, the initiative will bring 100 large-scale sculptures to San Francisco. The installations will be temporary and will bring existing artworks to SF’s public spaces.
Big Art Loop has already installed eight pieces since 2024, including some in San Francisco parks. Some of the existing sculptures include R-Evolution, which stands at 45 feet tall in front of the Ferry Building, and the whimsical sea serpent installation named Naga & The Captainess in Golden Gate Park.
“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 artworks are submitted through an open call and then selected by a collaboration of multiple city agencies. Instead of commissioning new artworks, the program will take existing pieces that are not currently being displayed. A total of 12 new sculptures are in process for 2025, and each piece undergoes a review process to ensure its safety for the public. Big Art Loop encourages civic engagement in the city and makes public spaces more welcoming for San Franciscans. The art installations will eventually form a walkable and bikeable trail through the city, like a unique sightseeing and gallery tour.
Big Art was started by the Sijbrandij Foundation, a nonprofit that has funded various projects, including cancer research. The Sijbrandij Foundation is working with Building 180, an art production agency that curates the art installations.
You can learn more about Big Art Loop here.