Welcome news for artists, art lovers, and burners this week in San Francisco. A project called the ‘Big Art Loop’ announced its plan to install up to 100 large pieces of art across San Francisco.

With 8 large sculptures already installed (see below) and 12 more installations scheduled for placement in 2025, our fair city is already starting to look more interesting, surprising, & engaging, with a bit more playa dust sprinkled on top.

If you are an artist who's already made a big ol’ statue, this could be an excellent opportunity to have it placed! Check out the program here: Call for Existing Sculptures for Public Placement.

The Big Art Loop is funded by the Sijbrandij Foundation (Sid & Karen Sijbrandij) and organized with arts non-profit Building 180, in coordination with OEWD, SF Recreation & Park Department, the Port of San Francisco, and SF Arts Commission.

Once the Big Art Loop is completed, the plan is to have a large-scale, temporary public art in San Francisco, forming a 34-mile path around the city.

The project started with the ‘R-Evolution’ by Marco Cochrane, and on Tuesday an 18-foot-long mermaid made from recycled metal and glass called ‘Coralee’ by Bay Area artist Dana Albany, is now installed at the Port of San Francisco’s Pier ½ through September 2026.

11 more art installations are planned this fall along the Embarcadero, between Heron’s Head Park and Fisherman’s Wharf. Burning Man sculpture is ideal for temporary public art placement because it’s already built to withstand the elements, as well as designed for public engagement and interaction.

Not all the statues being placed or considered have been to Burning Man, it’s definitely not a prerequisite. ‘Big Art’ is roughly defined as being 10+ feet in height or width.

We are excited to see what art pops up next, and to have yet another wonderful excuse to explore areas of our city on foot (or a bike).

The striking new addition to the city’s public art landscape, R-Evolution, a 45-foot-tall illuminated sculpture by renowned artist Marco Cochrane, will be on view in Embarcadero Plaza from April 2025 through 2026. Originally unveiled at Burning Man, this monumental artwork embodies strength, resilience, and the power of representation. By placing R-Evolution in Embarcadero Plaza, the city continues its tradition of championing public art as a force for dialogue, civic engagement, and cultural revitalization—especially in a time when public spaces are being redefined.

A mythic creature has surfaced in the heart of Golden Gate Park. A radiant, 100-foot-long, 25-foot-tall sea serpent named Naga—first unveiled at Burning Man 2024—now lives in Rainbow Falls Pond along the beloved JFK Promenade on San Francisco’s Golden Mile.

Created by artists Cjay Roughgarden, Stephanie Shipman, and Jacquelyn Scott, Naga is more than a sculpture—it’s an immersive, community-powered experience.

More here

Six temporary large-scale sculptures by world-renowned Mexican artist Betsabeé Romero have reenergized the permanently car-free JFK Promenade. Located near the East entrance to the park, beginning at the Yellow Dot.

Betsabeé Romero is a renowned Mexican artist specializing in sculptures and installations. Her art often incorporates everyday objects, particularly cars and car parts, transforming them with symbolic meaning. Romero’s work examines themes like migration, miscegenation, mobility, memory, and cultural identity.

More on the Golden Mile art here

Learn more about Sunset Dunes here.