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Big Art Loop Portside

Big Art. Bay Views. Explore the Waterfront.



Big Art Loop – Portside transforms the city's iconic waterfront into a premier open-air gallery. Spanning from Fisherman’s Wharf to India Basin Waterfront Park, this walkable, bikeable journey features eleven large-scale sculptures, with even more monumental works arriving in the months ahead.


This Portside trail is the San Francisco Bay waterfront segment of Big Art Loop, a citywide initiative bringing up to 100 large-scale sculptures to San Francisco's public spaces along a 34-mile art trail. By connecting neighborhoods through public art, the project invites residents and visitors alike to rediscover the beauty of our public spaces.


Big Art Loop - Portside is a partnership between the Port of San Francisco, Building 180, Big Art Loop, the Downtown SF Partnership, Street Plans, and a growing list of community organizations.



Art this big deserves a walk this good.

A young girl in denim overalls stands inside a circular art installation, smiling and pointing upward against a bright blue sky.
Outdoor scene at Pier 27 featuring colorful geometric installation, people walking and gathering, and a sign for the cruise terminal.

(Mobile: Swipe image to pan)

From mosaic sharks to massive whales, each sculpture invites play, reflection, and connection, reminding us that art belongs to everyone, everywhere.

#1
Desert Shark
Artist: Peter Hazel
  Pier 45 Plaza
#2
Pulse Portal
Artist: Davis McCarty
  Pier 27 Cruise Terminal Sidewalk
#3
Got Framed
Artist: NiNo Alicea
  Pier 7
#4
Coralee
Artist: Dana Albany
  Pier 1/2
#5
Echoes – a voice from uncharted waters
Artist: Mathias Gmachl
  Ferry Terminal Plaza
#6
Corpus
Artist: Michael Christian
  Pier 14
#7
Atabey's Treasure
Artist: NiNo Alicea
  Brannan Street Wharf
#8
Lips
Artist: fnnch
  South Beach Marina
#9
Steelhead
Artist: Bryan Tedrick
  Pier 52 Boat Launch
#10
Louis
Artist: DeWitt Godfrey
  Bayfront Park
#11
Dr. Fisherian's Runaway Machine
Artist: Chris Wollard & Kevin Conran
  Crane Cove Park
#12
Bloom
Artist: Michael Christian
  Heron's Head Park

Plan your route!

Start anywhere. The sculptures run along the waterfront from Fisherman's Wharf to Heron's Head Park. Some are clustered, others waiting to be found. Walk it, bike it, or spread it across a few visits.

Upcoming Events

September 17, 2026
Waterfront Walkabout

Discover Waterfront Walkabout, a free monthly bayside art stroll every third Thursday this fall (5:00–8:00 PM) from Pier 14 to the Exploratorium!

Enjoy live music, fresh oysters, and drinks at the Ferry Building, then wander the trail to four larger-than-life sculptures featuring a glowing art car DJ, outdoor Paint & Sip, mermaid storytelling, and free portraits. Explore at your own pace or RSVP for free guided art tours departing Pier 14 at 5:30 PM & 6:30 PM.


Big Art Loop - Portside is a partnership between the Port of San Francisco, Building 180, Big Art Loop, the Downtown SF Partnership, Street Plans, and a growing list of community organizations. The project celebrates creativity, accessibility, and civic pride by turning everyday spaces into an open-air gallery.