Walls That Talk

Lower Haight’s walls have always had something to say. In the 60’s, it was music and revolution. In the 80’s, it was punk rock and grit. Now, there are ten-foot flowers, flying cranes, and cats delivering affirmations through laundromat windows. The vibe has evolved but the mission’s the same: turn an everyday surface into something whimsical, fantastical, or motivational to make Lower Haight one of the most beautiful places to live in San Francisco!

Some murals to spot:

Wild Feathers & Painted Ladies at Wild Feather (Haight and Steiner)

Wild Feather, a women-owned festival clothing and accessories store, reached out to Ursula Young (@ursulaxyoung) and Amanda Lynn (@alynnpaint) to paint a mural that was bright, colorful and feminine, using the store as inspiration. The result was a stunning mural with two expressive women and oversized blooms, a burst of natural life flooding the concrete wall. The mural was a combination of the artists’ styles, representing San Francisco, femininity, and beauty, sprinkled with feathers, flowers, and birds for good measure. Fun fact: Both Ursula and Amanda lived in the Lower Haight at the same time back in the late 90’s, but didn’t know each other. As they crossed paths later in life, the mural was a fond homecoming for both.

Spiritual Journey at YH Beijing (Haight and Fillmore)

Along the wall next to YH Beijing, there is a striking mural of soaring cranes against a golden mist and deep green background. The Chinese restaurant reached out to Riley Li (@rileyliart) and Iris Lin (@xirislinx) to create a piece to highlight Chinese culture and the two artists created a mural depicting cranes finding their soulmates. The mural style is inspired by Chinese cloisonné, an ancient technique for decorating metalwork pieces where colored materials are partitioned by metal or gold outlines.

Cat-ffirmations at Wishy Washy Laundromat (Page and Steiner)

Last year, Wishy Washy wanted to add more color and joy to the neighborhood and reached out to @ian_the_meow to create some art. He was inspired by mental health and helping people feel less alone so he painted cats with inspirational quotes on 7 window panels at the corner laundromat. Based on his own cat, the cats became a symbol for comfort, softness, emotional honesty, and even humor! These playful panels are simple reminders that you are enough, you matter, and you’re not alone.

We’re lucky to live in an outdoor gallery - there’s art everywhere! The murals above connect our local businesses with culture, extending our values as a community. Murals make our community feel alive and spread beauty, creativity, and playfulness. On the next beautiful San Francisco day, walk outside and see what other murals you can find. Tell us your favorite one :)