San Francisco is already undoubtedly a beautiful city, with iconic architecture, sweeping ocean views, and colorful Victorian homes scattered throughout. Now, in an effort to beautify more of the city, local artists are painting utility boxes in neighborhoods across the city.
The new public paintings are part of an initiative called Paint The City, organized by the Civic Joy Fund in partnership with Paint The Void and Building 180. The utility boxes were painted by 49 different artists, a total of 322 painted boxes. You can find them throughout the city, adding pops of color throughout the city, including in the Haight, Mission District, down Van Ness Avenue, and Downtown.
“This project isn’t just about beautifying utility boxes, it’s about celebrating the diverse voices and stories that make our city unique,” said Manny Yekutiel from the Civic Joy Fund. “Over 50 talented local artists came together to transform everyday infrastructure into powerful works of art, each one reflecting the culture, community, and spirit of the place it represents.”
While we typically don’t pay attention to utility boxes, they now reflect SF’s uniqueness, with many of the paintings celebrating the neighborhood in which they reside.
“As a San Franciscan, I feel like it’s my duty as an artist to talk about our context. In this case, the boxes were supposed to uplift the living conditions of people in the Mission which was a working class Latino neighborhood, but it’s been changing a lot” said artist Manuel Carmona. “Part of the aim of these boxes was to include everyone, so whoever you’re with and wherever you’re going, if you’re going for a little walk, these make it a little more pleasant. This city needs a lot of love and we just want to make it a little better for everyone.”
The project first started in the fall of 2023, with 27 local artists painting over 100 utility boxes. Now, less than two years later, the program has expanded, adding over 200 new painted utility boxes. The project is led by the Civic Joy Fund, which is a nonprofit that organizes and invests in public projects for San Franciscans to enjoy. Other projects they’re involved with include Downtown First Thursdays and Summer of Music.
Check out the full map for utility boxes here, and look out for them the next time you’re on a walk.