About Big Art Loop
The world's largest urban sculpture trail.
Big Art Loop is a free, citywide public art experience spanning 34 miles across San Francisco. Through the installation of up to 100 monumental sculptures, the walkable and bikeable Loop transforms streets, parks, waterfronts, and public spaces into an open-air museum accessible to everyone.
By bringing extraordinary existing artworks out of storage and into the public realm, Big Art Loop supports artists, activates neighborhoods, and creates new ways to experience the city, one sculpture at a time.
Why Big Art Loop
Big Art Loop is an investment in two things: artists and neighborhoods.
Too often, extraordinary large-scale artworks sit in storage, unseen by the public. By bringing these works into the public realm, we help artists reach new audiences, share their work, and be compensated for their creative contributions.
At the same time, public art has the power to transform places. Monumental sculptures become destinations, encourage exploration, support local businesses, and strengthen community pride. When art is placed into the fabric of daily life, neighborhoods become more vibrant, welcoming, and connected.
Rather than commissioning new works, Big Art Loop focuses on extraordinary existing sculptures that are ready to be experienced now. This allows us to support more artists, scale faster, and bring significant cultural experiences to communities across San Francisco.
San Francisco has always been a city that imagines what comes next. Big Art Loop continues that tradition by making world-class public art part of everyday life.
Invest in an artist. Invest in a neighborhood. Build a more vibrant city for all.
Impact to Date
25
Monumental sculptures placed in SF
50+
Community activations around the art
$2M
Paid directly to artists for the temporary exhibition of their sculptures
37%
Loop artists from the Bay Area
52%
Loop artists are emerging artists
Recognized
by the San Francisco Arts Commission as a model for temporary art placement.
Highlighted
by Mayor Daniel Lurie as a new model for civic activation through art.
1 in 5
Approximately how many SF residents that will live within a 10-minute walk of a Big Art Loop sculpture by December 2026.
Our Story
In 2024, Big Art Loop began from an unconventional belief: that bold, large-scale art in public spaces can transform a city, attracting people, jobs and investment to its communities.
Sid and Karen Sijbrandij and the Sijbrandij Foundation helped seed and incubate Big Art Loop in its earliest chapter. Their early support made it possible to imagine and launch a new model for public art, one rooted in connection, civic pride, and shared energy across the city.
As we turn the page to Big Art Loop’s next phase of expansion, we invite new founding supporters to join us in shaping the future of public art in San Francisco.
Our Leadership
Aliza Marks
CEO, Big Art Loop
Shannon Riley
Co-Founding Partner, Big Art Loop
CEO, Building 180
Meredith Winner
Co-Founding Partner, Big Art Loop
COO, Building 180
Who Makes It Happen
Founding Supporters
Early supporters like the Sijbrandij Foundation helped seed and incubate Big Art Loop, bringing its first chapter to life. As the Loop grows, we’re welcoming new supporters to help shape its next chapter.
Rbhu Engineering
Structural engineers ensuring safety and feasibility.
Civic Partners
City agencies include the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (SFRPD), the Port of San Francisco (Port), and the San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC).
Building 180
A women-founded art agency leading curation, land and artist partnerships, permitting and installations.
Community Partners
Local groups such as Illuminate, Mid-Market Foundation, and Friends of Sunset Dunes.
Big Art Liaisons
Brings together thought partners who help shape the vision, engage communities, and champion the art. Learn more
How Art Gets Placed
Big Art Loop placements are guided by partnerships, possibility, and community insight.
Specific installation sites along the Big Art Loop are identified in collaboration with city agencies, local partners, and community groups, focusing on public spaces that can safely host sculptures of this scale and reflect the character of the surrounding neighborhood.
Each location goes through a feasibility review, considering engineering, safety, visibility, and community use. Artworks are then matched to sites through a collaborative process that considers scale, character, availability, cost, stakeholder input, and community feedback.
Our Process
1. Call for Art
Through an open call for art, artists submit existing sculptures (10 feet or larger) for review. Building 180 manages submissions and maintains a curated pool of possibilities.
2. Site Selection & Neighborhood Input
We work with city agencies, neighborhood groups, and community partners to identify public spaces that can safely host large-scale art, considering engineering, visibility, foot traffic, and community use. Community feedback helps shape which sites move forward.
3. Curatorial Matching & Community Engagement
Artworks are matched to locations based on feasibility, scale, availability, cost, and input from local partners, stakeholders, and community members. This is a deeply collaborative process, and our approach to community engagement continues to evolve as we grow.
4. Approvals & Permitting
Big Art Loop follows the Guidelines for Temporary Public Art established by SFAC, where the initiative is listed as a model for this process. Big Art Loop follows the Guidelines for Temporary Public Art established by SFAC, where the initiative is listed as a model for this process.
5. Installation
Final works are installed with full engineering oversight and inspection.
6. Activation
Each piece launches a civic moment. It’s a chance for neighbors to gather, artists to shine, and San Francisco to celebrate.