San Rafael City Council Approves Five Public Art Installations

On February 2, the San Rafael City Council approved the installation of five new public art pieces as part of the Downtown San Rafael Arts District's 2025-2026 Public Art Program.

The initiative, funded by a California Arts Council grant, will bring three murals and two sculptures to highly visible city-owned locations, including the Third Street parking garage, the 2nd Street retaining wall at Ida Street, Court Plaza, the 4th Street median, and the entrance to City Hall. The program is designed to enhance San Rafael's identity as Marin County's arts hub while supporting economic vitality through creative placemaking and public space activation.

Selected from over 120 entries, the approved artworks include murals by Bryan Valenzuela, Wyatt Hersey, and Paz de la Calzada, alongside sculptures by Martin Taylor and Oleg Lobykin. The juried selection criteria emphasized originality, technical proficiency, and alignment with the city's cultural and economic development goals. Together, these works aim to create a unified collection that reflects the diversity and vibrancy of the San Rafael community.

Public engagement played a role in shaping the program. Between October and November 2025, residents were invited to review semifinalist designs online and at in-person events, resulting in more than 1,100 survey responses. Nearly 89% of respondents were Marin residents, and a majority agreed the proposed artworks would be enjoyed by people of all ages, complement their settings, and elevate awareness of San Rafael as a cultural destination. This feedback, along with letters of community support, informed the final artist selections and reinforced the city's commitment to inclusive, community-driven public art initiatives.

Installation will begin this spring and continue through summer.

San Rafael is one of 24 designated California Cultural Districts. Downtown San Rafael Arts District (DSRAD) | Marin's Art Hub