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

wrapped buildings

Posted on April 11, 2025 by Mary C

or, in other words, buildings covered in a mural – three examples seen in Salem Massachusetts

below: The Red House, 2019, a bright and lively painting by Colombian artist, Ledania

below: “Villa Alegra” by Antonyo Marest for Punto Urban Art Museum

below: Habernaro Bike Shop, painted with cheerful, whimsical shapes and colours by Annadidathing

one storey building, small pointed arch over entrance, two large windows, front is covered with mural

Photos taken July 2024

mountain villages, mural village

Posted on November 26, 2024 by Mary C

Ihwa-dong is a neighbourhood, built on a hill (Mount Naksan) in Seoul. Some of the houses are literally built into the city walls. Because of its hilly nature, it is often referred to as a mountain village. In 2006 as a cultural project there was an effort to transform this relatively poor section of the city into an artistic landmark by adding public art – especially murals. Seventy artists were involved. The area became a tourist destination. It was also saved from demolition and redevelopment.

In 2016 the residents petitioned to have the art removed as they did not like the increase in tourist traffic. The local government didn’t do anything so some of the residents painted over a few of the more popular murals. There are also reports of murals being painted over in 2023 … or residents adding their own art

painting on a wall, I love seoul where the love is a red heart

below: A woman walks down (very down!) a street in Ihwa-dong

below: A small neighbourhood behind a fence. Bright red shutters.

a small street art mural on the front of a house, image is a collection of houses, streets, and fences

below: Girl with a red balloon at number 69.

street art painting, a girl in black stencil, holds the string of a red balloon

below: Little puppy dogs and a friendly kitten by the hedge

street art mural, green background like grass or a leafy hedge, 3 little dogs and a cat. one of the dogs has a long stem rose between its teeth

below: Toucan and monkeys. The black car is blocking the shiny green car but he doesn’t seem to mind.

mural on a wall, three black and white monkeys, and a large toucan with a bright beak. a car is parked in front of the mural and is blocking part of it. Also in mural, a man is getting out of a car

below: Watching time, but it’s always ten past two; watching each other but seeing nothing.

two street art paintings in black and white, on the right is an analogue clock with hands pointing to time that is 2:10. on the left are two men with binoculars, looking at each other up closely so that the ends of the binoculars touch

below: Motorcycle parcel delivery (although on closer inspection, it might be a trailer load of cardboard for recycling)

street art mural, a man in a low back motorcycle that is pulling a trailer loaded with parcels

below: A great place to see views of Seoul…. but there are a lot of stairs!

below: Up a narrow street (no not street, just stairs), more paintings on the walls

below: Doorway conversation

below: Square head sitting with a woman with very, very long red hair

below: Fish by the door of the shop

… fish on the wall

orange and white carp painted on blue wall

… and fish kissing teapots.

a real teapot hangs beside a painting of a fish that looks like the fish is going to kiss the teapot

below: A tired old faded bear sits by the road

a very large stuffed teddy bear is sitting in a rocking chair on the sidewalk beside a house. bear is weathered and faded.

below: Looking down to the layer below where people are sitting outside Espresso Bar Odeoksae Coffee. They are joined by a few silent people on the walls. To the left, two camels have wandered into the scene.

people sitting outside coffee shop, street art on walls of odeoksae coffee shop

below: Rainbow stripes and some silhouette figures that look they belong in Alice in Wonderland – a trumpet blowing rabbit and the queen of hearts.

wall is painted in rainbow stripes in the front, and in pale blue in the back. on the back are three figures in black silhouette with red hearts

below: Slouching past with his mind on other things far away….

mural of a young man walking past a brick building

below: Yellow shirts and flowers

mural on a wall of a man in yellow shirt and black pants, and sandals, standing there

below: This is Son Heung-min who is the captain of the Tottenham Hotspurs as well the South Korea national team.

street art painting of a soccer, football, player, with words super son number 7, white jersey,

below: Off to the shops with her bright red purse and blue shopping bag

street art painting on a wall, woman in blue skirt, carrying red purse, and pulling blue shopping cart

below: People on the boat, fish swimming under it.

Photos taken September 2024

around Bernard Shaw

Posted on October 10, 2016 by Mary C

The Bernard Shaw, in a building built in 1895, is a pub on Richmond Street South in Dublin. I had heard that there was some street art in the vicinity, so a detour was made to that part of Dublin. The building looks like it needs a coat of paint!

an old black building, the Bernard Shaw pub, built 1895, with street art on either side of it.

below: A brightly coloured bird flies on one side of the pub

mural of a blue and dark pink bird in flight, with a long yellow beak

below: A peacock continues the bird theme on the other side of the Bernard Shaw.
Perhaps that’s him on the wall above?

a large mural of a colourful peacock onwood construction hoardings.

below: Don’t forget to look up too.

murals on a wall and on the upper storey of a pub behind the fence, a tug boat, fowers, a woman's head

below: “Our bodies, our lives, our choice” mural. Part of the “Repeal the 8th” campaign, an abortion rights campaign to call for a referendum to repeal the 8th Amendment to the Constitution of the Republic of Ireland. The 8th amendment criminalizes abortion in all cases except where to continue a pregnancy would result in death of the mother.

two people walking past a mural covered with pictures of flowers and leaves and the words, in cursive writing, Our bodies our lives our choice

small street art painting of a man's face high on a wall

In the same area there was a car park… or construction site… or just a series of walls covered with street art and graffiti. Not much of it was noteworthy but here are a few pictures just the same.

construction hoardings covered with street art and graffiti with cars parked beside them.

below: This one accompanies a happy birthday and I love you message written for Angela, presumably written by Caolan.

graffiti that says angela & caolan. Angela is in pink letters and caolan is in blue. the e in angela is a lock and the L in caolan is a key. The key fits into the lock.

a little black and white striped, wavy stripes, stylized face creature.

blog_graffiti_street_art_alley

street art of three male faces, jester like hats, in subdued tones of blue and pink and beige . Line drawings but with realistic lips and tongue

graffiti and street art on fences, with sunlight shining through

graffiti and street art on building and fence, with brick rowhouses behind, Dublin

text street art and graffiti on walls

street art man's face on a brick wall above a text graffiti tag, people wakling in the alley beside the building

small 3D circle blue with flower in the center and an orange square beside the circle. The square has a face on it with square eyes

some more Fitzroy murals

Posted on February 7, 2016 by Mary C

Some murals found in Fitzroy

large mural of a man standing waist deep in water holding onto a folded paper boat in both hands. A seagull is flying past. The man is fully clothed.

below: By Plea and Dem 189, a mural

large mural by Plea and DEM 189, of an older man on a unicycle with many things on his back including a monkey and a parrot in a cage

below: A mural dedicated to Adriano by Seth (Julien Mallard), Sirum, Dem 189, Plea, and Mike Maka on Rochester street.

mural on Rochester steet in Fitzroy, boy sitting on ground with his head looking up and into a circular rainbow. Above him is a scene with skulls

below: Mural of a woman by Cam Scale.

large two storey mural on a red brick building, by Cam Scale, of a woman's head and face, long black hair.

below: portrait of Raimond Graita, Australian philosopher and writer.

mural in black and white of Raimond Graita on a garage door.

below: Mural on the side of the Napier Hotel, rhinos by Putos.

Napier Hotel, with a mural on the side, two animal like creatures, one (on the left) is a rhino

rhinos mural by putos on the side of the Napier Hotel.

below: Living the dream

a mural of many geometric shapes on the side of a building, also with the words living the dream
below: Concentric blue patterns on the corner of George and Moor.

a building on a corner of an intersection, white, with concentric circles of blue patterns.

below: The belle and the bull-headed ranger, sizzling true story, real to life marionettes.

mural with the words (red lettering on yellow), The belle and the bull-headed ranger, along with a picture of a bull

below: Leaving the brick untouched, blue wall mural by Deams

mural by deams in melbourne, negative space, wall has been painted blue except for patches where the original brick is left unpainted.

mural by deams in melbourne, negative space, wall has been painted blue except for patches where the original brick is left unpainted. close up

below: large tribute mural painted by DMA (Da Mad Art) crew: Kidparis, Peril and New2

large mural in Fitzroy by kidparis, Peril, and New2, who collectively are the DMA crew, with the words From Queens come Kings, by Da Mad Art, or DMA for short

blog_queens_kings_dma

Eyes on the Streets

and feets on the ground. Graffiti, street art and murals seen while wandering the streets and alleys of our colourful world.

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