Balmy Alley on a winter afternoon

Posted on December 2, 2025 by Mary C

A previous post, ‘stencils on a blue fence‘ featured art in San Francisco’s Balmy Alley. This post contains a lot more street art from the same location! Although the alley is only one block long, there is a lot to look at! Most of the art depicts Mexican or Hispanic history and culture; there is a strong reoccurring theme of social justice as well.

below: Street art paintings have been a part of Balmy Alley since the early 1970s. it is now home to numerous brightly colored murals.

below: Part of “Five Sacred Colors of Corn” at the entrance to Balmy Alley. Prior to 2021 these panels were at Mercy Housing.

below: A Day of the Dead image – a holiday to remember and honor those who have died.

part of a mural on Balmy, day of the dead theme, mexican roots

below: Max from “Where the Wild Things Are”

mural based on the character Max from the book Where the Wild things are, boy dressed in white wolf suit

below: This photo, and the following two, are from an older mural by Hector Escarraman. It was painted on a wood fence in the alley back in 1995. The colours have faded and the vines have started to encroach on the top of some of the heads but enough of the image remains that you can get a good idea of what the original painting looked like. All of the people in the mural are icons of Mexican art.

faded mural on wood fence, two people, man and woman, man wearing glasses, woman with long braids

below: A lonely red heart has been added.

mural, faded, portrait of a man, with a small red heart sticker on it,

below: One of the figures in blue is Frida Kahlo.

faded blue mural of people standing together

below: Three generations of women working in Nepal are depicted in this mural by Martin Travers. “Naya Bhinana” (A New Dawn) was painted in 2002.

part of Three generations of women working in Nepal are depicted in this mural by Martin Travers. "Naya Bhinana" (A New Dawn) was painted in 2002.

below: These stairs were decorated by Precita Eyes Muralists with a mural titled “Dragon Eyes”. It was painted way back in 1998. For more than forty years Precita Eyes has used murals to enrich communities in San Francisco – murals that focus on positive images about such topics as culture, nature, unity, and history

below: Zigzags and triangles in bright colours with a couple of hummingbirds flying around.

below: There’s a lot of religious and cultural symbolism in this mural and it shows how much the two are entwined.

mural, Madonna, dragon, butterfly in center, symbols, woman's portrait, bright colours

below: On the left, Frida Kahlo and Tina Modotti with a few origami birds added to the scene.

faded murals, on left is Frida Kahlo and Tina Modotti, both of wooden doors in an alley at number 86, small origami birds have been added

below: Mother and child

on a wood fence, large faces of mother and child

below: At 50A

painted buildings and fence in alley. Large brown and white cow in a landscape

below: Women of the Resistance, 38 women’s portraits in a group, painted in 2018 by Lucía González Ippolito aka Cia Lu Art

women of the resistance mural in balmy alley, featuring portraits of many women

left side of women of the resistance mural in balmy alley, featuring portraits of many women

right side of women of the resistance mural in balmy alley, featuring portraits of many women

below: Ruby throated hummingbird resting on a very blue finger.

street art mural, small ruby throated hummingbird sitting on the finger of an outstretched hand, along with some desert vegetation, cacti and succulents, red sky

mural, Cosmogonia by Chilovia, Raiz Peskado, dedicated to Andres Hernandez, on a wood fence in a lane in San Fran, blue woman with a hummingbird on her hand, boy riding a wolf, turtle, frog, and other flora and fauna

below: There is a dragon here too!

half of mural by Carla Wojczuk, a woman in front of a building,

below: The other half of the mural… It as painted by Carla Wojczuk in 2011 and is titled “56 Lu the Wanderer”.

below: “The Mission District is for Everyone” is the text on the sign that the little blue bear is holding. The mural is “Victorion” by Sirron Norris

mural of houses and apartment buildings that have become parts of robot like monster,

below: A tribute to Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador, who gave his life fighting for social and economic and ecological justice. He was murdered by the CIA (or at least by CIA-backed assassins) on 24th March 1980, the day after he he urged Salvadoran soldiers to disobey their superiors. A few days later, more than 30 people were killed at his funeral. In all, at least 75,000 people lost their lives during the 12 years that the civil war lasted in El Salvador.

mural that is tribute of El Salvador Archbishop Oscar Romero who was murdered 24 March 1980, as well as the people killed at his funeral

part of mural that is tribute of El Salvador Archbishop Oscar Romero who was murdered 24 March 1980, as well as the people killed at his funeral

below: Un Pasado Que Aún Vive (A Past That Still Lives Here) by Joel Bergner, from 2004

mural by Joel Bergner, mother holding a child, sitting outside,

below: Standing in a barrel is El Chavo from a Mexican television sitcom from the 1970s and 1980s. He is standing beside a mural from 2001 of a butterfly and a palm tree in “Memorias Primas” by Marta Ayala. The butterfly has been covered up for some reason.

below: Happy singing tree? Scared yelling tree? Enchanted and magical forest? Haunted and creepy forest?

mural of a tree with a human face that seems to be screaming

below: Another tree/human mix. This time there is a contrast to the hot colours of the desert on one side and the cooler colours of the city on the other. It is titled “Love and Compassion” and it is in memory of Father Richard Purcell (1938-2011), a Franciscan friar who ran a homeless shelter nearby for men with AIDS. The mural was painted by Laura Campos, a Precita Eyes member.

man as a tree, orange desert background on one side, blue city background with a house on the other

below: Parrots and toucans and other details, mural by Dallas Hyatt

large mural covering garage front, parrots, macaws, toucan, and other birds, also a Jesus with woman and baby.

mural on a garage door in balmy alley, large eyes looking at you

below: “Enrique’s Journey” by Josué Rojas,

mural by Josue Rojas in Balmy Alley San Francisco

mural by Josue Rojas in Balmy Alley San Francisco, man playing guitar

mural by Josue Rojas in Balmy Alley San Francisco, Uncle Sam holding a baby who is crying, ICE immigration depicted as skulls

mural by Josue Rojas in Balmy Alley San Francisco, angel, young boy with arms outstretched as if flying

below: “Tu doy una Cancion como un Disparo como un libro, una Palabra, una Guerrilla, Como Doy el Amor. I give you a Song Like a Tribute, like a Book, a Word, a Freedom fighter, like a I give Love.” Silvio Rodriguez.

man playing guitar, rainbow coming out of guitar and swirling around to form cornucopia of fruits and vegetables being held by a woman.

mural, two people with rifles pointed, three people holding framed photographs of other people

below: Day and night. The man in the moon reflects on the water below. The sun shines in a blue sky.

Photos taken February 2025

Mission Makeover

Posted on October 22, 2025 by Mary C

In 2012 the father and daughter team Tirso Araiza and Lucia González Ippolito (aka Cia Lu Art) painted this mural in Balmy Alley. It was restored and updated in 2022. The theme of the mural is the (ongoing) gentrification of the Mission District neighbourhood with the consequent displacement of those poorer and less fortunate.

Balmy Alley mural, social commentary, social justice, theme of gentrification effects on Mission District, painted originally in 2012 by Tirso Araiza and Lucia González Ippolito, updated in 2022, shows police removing people from the area, wealthier people moving in

part of Balmy Alley mural, painted originally in 2012 by Tirso Araiza and Lucia González Ippolito, updated in 2022, mission district makeover

part of Mission makeover mural, white dog, man sleeping in the street, red convertible

The word written across the top is “Rejoice”

Photos taken February 2025

stencils on blue

Posted on October 20, 2025 by Mary C

… on a wooden fence in Balmy Alley

below: The bottom part of the fence is painted blue before stencils of faces were added.

below: On the top part of the fence, other shapes were also added, along with a lot of white dots.

below: “Cuidado hay perro” Beware of dog.

with gate handle and lock, street art mural on a wood fence in balmy alley, mission district in san francisco, bottom part painted blue, stencils of faces, shapes and white dots, vine growing over top

street art mural on a wood fence in balmy alley, mission district in san francisco, bottom part painted blue, stencils of faces, shapes and white dots, vine growing over top

Photos taken February 2025

Carlin’s Cafe – San Fran

Posted on October 19, 2025 by Mary C

Carlin’s Cafe in the Mission District was closed for about 3 1/2 years during Covid. It re-opened in 2023. The paintings on the exterior wall pre-date the closure.

below: 298 Valencia Street.

street view of Carlins Cafe an Laundromat on Valencia Street in the Mission District of San Francisco, orange and yellow awnings over two large window,

below: A closer view

carlins cafe, exterior wall with large windows, paintings on the walls,

below: A rocket powered BART train? The lights of the Golden Gate bridge shine in the night while a sailing ship lingers outside the harbor. There is also a welder hard at work.

part of mural, BART train but with rocket engines, lights of the Golden Gate bridge,a welder, a sailing ship, a man wearing hat,

below: She’s dancing in a flowing orange dress but with a partner whose hands are skeletal.

part of a mural, a woman dancing with a skeleton in a black jacket, she's wearing long orange dress, also baseball players,

below: Tucked up in the shadows under the awning are a couple of baseball players

part of a mural, baseball players, with pennant flags

below: Playing for the camera?

below: A coffee moment.

below: More coffee, this time from the source.

coffee pot and spoon, pouring coffee, street art mural

below: The 49ers of the National Football League, the home team here in San Francisco.

below: A poster in the window

below: Seen outside the restaurant – This graffiti was inspired by Danny DeVito’s character Ongo Gablogian, art collector, critic, and patron, from the movie It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. This graffiti was created by Ongosf and apparently, little Ongos can be found in many places!

Photos take February 2025

Park Here

Posted on October 17, 2025 by Mary C

A few scenes from downtown Springfield Massachusetts. Most of these were found around Stearns Square.

below: Bloom’s wall is adjacent to a parking lot on Stearns Square. Most of the images are ads for photographic supplies.

Painting that covers the whole exterior wall of Blooms store, 5 floors, including photo supplies, ads for various photo products, Nikon, Kodak, Zeiss, Ilford, Polaroid, Bestler, Nikor, Bell and Howell, Linhof, Pako, and others, Across the bottom are paintings and mosaics of old cars, motorcycles, and bikes,

below: Motorcycles and cars in paint and mosaics

part of mural on wall, part paint and part mosacis, Indian motorcycles, old fashioned car, woman on motorocycle, back of a bus, words that say A masterpiece of engineering

below: Park Here, park with the birds

parking lot kiosk building painted in bright colours with painting of 3 birds on a wire

parking lot kiosk building painted in bright colours with painting of a large gray pigeon

below: Across the street from the parking lot is, “The Artist” by Jeff Henriquez, 2021

below: Las Vidas Negras Importan! Along with Empathy, Energy, and Equality.

close up on word lives in a black lilves matter mural. pictures and patterns in the letters. Las Vidas Negras Importan!, also hearts with empathy, energy, equality written in them,also a black woman with gold crown and long white gown

Colorburst type of mural yellow in center, with rays radiating from center in pink and orange, gray background

below: “Geoutopia” by Kim Carlino, for Fresh Paint Springfield 2019, seen at Stearns Square.

mural called Geoutopia by Kim Carlino in Springfield Massachusetts, abstract, yellow circles, black striaight lines, red shapes, turquoise and white curved lines,

close up of Kim Carlino mural in red and yellow, painted over windows, white black and turquoise lines run through the red and yellow parts.

below: These portraits of the characters from The Wizard of Oz were painted by John Simpson.

below: John Simpson also painted a series of portraits of Jazz musicians origianally for the Jazz and Roots Festival one year. Carlos Santana is on the right.

below: Three saxophone players, including Charlie Parker in the center.

below: And last, Louis Armstrong and John Lennon

Photos taken July 2024

Edificio de Mujeres, San Fran

Posted on September 20, 2025 by Mary C

Edificio de Mujeres, or The Women’s Building, is a woman owned and operated community centre that opened in 1979. The exterior is covered with a painting titled “MaestraPeace” which depicts women of different cultures and ages throughout history, both real and fictional. Six hundred names are written into the mural. A group of seven women artists (and numerous helpers and volunteers) completed the painting in 1994 (it was restored in 2012). What follows here is a selection of images showing parts of the mural.

below: Over the front entrance

front of the womens building in san francisco, bare breasted woman at top center

part of maestrapeace, a mural on the womens building,

part of maestrapeace, a mural on the womens building, African woman with very large holes as earrings, with a baby

part of maestrapeace, a mural on the womens building around the entrance to the building

part of maestrapeace, a mural on the womens building

part of maestrapeace, a mural on the womens building, painting of symbols and patterns around a door

part of maestrapeace, a mural on the womens building, two large hands, one holding a succulent plant with people inside and the other hand is holding a woman coming out of the water with many large waves

part of maestrapeace, a mural on the womens building, a nurse, and an elderly woman

part of maestrapeace, a mural on the womens building

part of maestrapeace, a mural on the womens building, an older woman standing up

part of maestrapeace, a mural on the womens building

According to Wikipedia, the artists involved were: Juana Alicia, Miranda Bergman, Edythe Boone, Susan Kelk Cervantes, Meera Desai, Yvonne Littleton, and Irene Perez

Photos taken February 2025

under the railway in Lynn

Posted on September 19, 2025 by Mary C

Lynn is a town in Massachusetts just outside of Boston. It is also one of the towns that participate in Beyond Walls, a non-profit organization that believes that art can build better cities. There is a lot of street art here! This isn’t the first post about Lynn – it is a look at some of the painting along the railway line near the station in central Lynn.

below: As the railway passes through Lynn, it is above grade. The sections underneath along the parking lot on Mt Vernon Street have been decorated with street art murals. The large building in the background is on the other side of the tracks and is featured in another blog post, Behind a building on Union Street

street art murals in Lynn Mass USA, under the railway that runs above grade here, as seen from beyond Mount Vernon Street

below: Part shiny chrome and part matte gray, a little whale by Bikismo (aka the chrome master!).

street art mural in Lynn Mass USA, by Bikismo, on bright yellow background, a whale that is partially shiny chrome and partially matte gray

below: Spray painting with great gusto with Okaje.

street art mural in Lynn Mass USA, by artist Okaje, a man in spray painting a pink blob

below: Tentacles of a purple octopus slither up the post.

below: Three men and a wolf.

below: A marvelous steamy picture of Engine 481 on the Boston and Maine railway painted by Ben Keller.

below: From Lynn with love.

below: Spread your magic on cassette (how long ago did we do that!?).

below: History by Life Art from 2021. There is more text at the bottom of the panel but only “Humanity in colors” can be read.

below: Wraps Mummy and its red balloon, by Grimly Toys

below: A row of people across the top, by Annadidathing aka Anna Dugan

below: A very purple face, painted by Bycazo (aka Jessica)

below: Autism, Lola, and Nanay…..

below: At one end of the parking lot is a large mural that is a collaboration between Yu-Baba and Key Detail.

close up of part of mural by yu-baba and key detail in ynn massachusett,

below: On the other side of the tracks there is more art.

a row of street art murals under a railway line

below: A canine-like critter (dog? wolf?) with a black shiny nose and sharp white teeth by Ghost Beard

large canine looking creature with a big black nose, long snout, and big white teeth, text says ghost beard

below: Nead2‘s rendition of Bart Simpson as a graffiti artist.

street art featuring Bart Simpson, by nead 2

below: It seems to rise like a plume of smoke – a painting on one of the pillars supporting the railway bridge, painted by Yuknow K Lou

below: Also by the tracks…

below: Ruben Ubiera painted this mural on Silsbee Street close to the railway tracks and station. There are words on the black band on the gorilla’s shoulder that say “Entering Lynn”.

street art mural in Lynn Mass USA by Ruben Ubiera, large gorilla,

street art mural in Lynn Mass USA, by Ruben Ubiera

the words leaving memories always written in black capital letters on a wall with other street art colours

below: Lastly, just across from the tracks Kevin Ledo has painted “Do you realize” on the side of one of the small apartment buildings.

seen in Harlem

Posted on September 7, 2025 by Mary C

as the Harlem in New York City.

below: Be Kind; Be Well; Be Safe; Be Love

below: There is a mural on the side of the Amsterdam News building on Frederick Douglas Blvd. The full mural shows two women and a child under a baobab tree. “A Family’s Tree” by Alexandre Keto.

Mural by Alexandre Keto on the side of the Amsterdam News building in Harlem, 2 black women and a child under a baobab tree

below: By any means necessary

below: The top part of this painting has been covered by the ads. The words “Show Love to Artist”, as well as the gold crown that the man is wearing, have been obscured. That side of the wall was painted by Amir Diop.

below: Too many humans and not enuf souls. The blue is a remnant from a previous paste-up while the bleeding eyes are from yet another layer.

below: A portrait and white cross, by Brendan T. McNally

below: Handcuffs, a gun, and a bottle of liquor – but turn your back on all that and head towards reading and education.

below: Under the railway tracks.

emural under the railway tracks by an old station entrance

mural in grey tones, a man, and lots of text — Life’s path is not always so clear. Many of us look, but still don’t see. We hear but still don’t listen. This doesn’t mean that slavery doe not exist. Jesus struggles through great obstacles so that we could learn how to be free; how to find our way through darkness. Many of us will continue down a path of destruction like chained slaves toward their grave. Be free my friends, be free.

below: We fit you to a T featuring Mr. T. from the 1980s TV show, “The A-Team”. His given name was Laurence Tureaud.

below: We are New Yorkers.

mural, baseball player, words that say we are new yorkers

below: That’s a lot of words! Zeitgeist is defined as “the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time” Perhaps this poster captures the zeitgeist of New York City in the 2020s.

a poster, 2 pages of plain white paper with lots of words written in black marker about Jesus and the blue pill

below: There are two large murals along the walls at Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Plaza.

two murals at Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Plaza.

below: “How Do I See Myself” by CAW Kids

mural, how i see myself, by caw kids, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Plaza., harlem, new york city

below: Womens Health Community Mural

womens health community mural in Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Plaza., harlem,

below: Good night! Sleep tight!

Photos taken July 2024

Funky Fish and fisheries

Posted on August 26, 2025 by Mary C

There is an aquatic (and fisheries) themed mural that can be seen from the Pinellas Loop Trail in St. Petersburg. It was painted by PlasticBirdie (Jeremy Nichols) and BlaineFontana during the SHINE Mural Festival in 2019 in partnership with PangeaSeed Foundation’s Sea Walls. Funding was provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). It is over 120 feet long and took eight days to paint. It’s title is “The 8th Funky Fish Town”.

mural, by Jeremy Nichols and Blaine Fontana, about fish especially groupers, and fisheries of Florida, in St. Petersburg, title is The eighth funky fish town

below: Each of the 7 pegs describes one of Florida’s local fisheries. Number 1 is Madeira Beach and number 2 is Panama City …. followed by 3. Cortez, 4. Apalachicola (for oysters), 5.Steinhatchee (for scallops) 6. Matlacha and 7. Key West

details about the 7 fisheries in Florida including Panama City, Madeira Beach, and Key West , in a street art mural

below: A coral reef with a dark red grouper fish poking its head out. A gray manta ray is also pictured.

part of a street art mural, a gray manta ray, a coral reef, and two grouper fish

below: And last, a giant green eel with many arrows.

Photos taken March 2024

Pohukaina Street

Posted on August 25, 2025 by Mary C

A previous post showed a number of murals that have been painted near the corner of Cooke and Pohukaina Streets in the Kaka’ako district of Honolulu. If you were to stay on Pohukaina Street instead of turning on Cooke, you would walk past another wall of murals. This is that wall. It takes up the whole block.

below: At the corner with Cooke Street