SF institution 'heartbroken and furious' after erasure of public artSF Gate LogoHearst Newspapers LogoSkip to main contentGET OUR AD-FREE APPHomeClassifiedsStandards & PracticesAdvertise With UsPrivacy NoticeTerms of UseAd ChoicesYour Privacy ChoicesAbout SFGATECareersContact SFGATENewslettersNewsBay AreaCalifornia WildfiresEducationTechNorth CoastPoliticsWeatherSports49ersGiantsA'sWarriorsTravelCalifornia ParksCentral CoastHawaiiMonterey-CarmelTahoeWine CountryHoroscopeFood + DrinkCultureLos AngelesCaliforniaNational ParksReal EstateNew Homes(Virtual) Open HomesLuxuryRentalsPlace a Real Estate AdNeighborhood GuidesHome & GardenMoversObitsObituariesPlace an ObituaryBest OfSFGATE StoreShoppingPuzzlesSponsor ContentStoryStudioPaid Press ReleasesSenior LivingSponsor Content: BusinessSF Gate LogoBREAKING41m agoNew Apple CEO unveils a foldable iPhone41m agoLocalSan Francisco institution 'heartbroken and furious' after erasure of public artBy Amanda Bartlett, Assistant Local EditorSep 6, 2026FILE - A view down Clarion Alley, where four murals were painted over.John S Lander/LightRocket via Getty ImagesA public arts institution in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District is “heartbroken and furious” after three of its murals were recently painted over and one was “partially destroyed,” according to a Thursday letter from Veronica Torres, co-director of the Clarion Alley Mural Project (CAMP.)The grassroots organization is responsible for the colorful assortment of panoramic wall paintings stretching a city block wide from Community Thrift on Valencia Street down to the intersection of 18th and Mission Streets. Established in 1992 by a volunteer collective of six artists who were inspired by the mural movement born out of Balmy Alley in the 1970s, the focus of its works range from labor issues to housing rights, memorials and more. More than 700 murals have been created at the site from local artists spanning all ages and levels of experience, according to the organization’s website.AdvertisementArticle continues below this adClarion AlleySara C. via yelpMission Local first reported news of the erasure last week, noting that on Aug. 24, artist Doug Rhodes, who has a studio on Clarion Alley, saw a man painting over one mural after another. He had reached the fourth when Rhodes spoke up and told him to stop. “My boss told me to,” the man replied, according to Mission Local. At the time, a representative from the Clarion Alley Mural Project reached out to Makras Real Estate, the company that manages the building, and were told the property owner ordered an employee to paint over reported “graffiti,” Mission Local reported. “We’ve tried to approach what happened assuming there was no ill intent,” Torres of CAMP wrote in the Thursday letter. “Still, after nearly 35 years of stewarding this alley, we have to ask: How does the erasure of four longstanding community murals happen without any communication with CAMP or the artists involved?”AdvertisementArticle continues below this adBECOME A FRIEND. GET OUR AD-FREE APP.Access our new app with ad-free reading, curated maps and more.GET IT NOWMission Local reported impacted murals included “We’re all in this together,” John Viola’s 2016 memorial for activist and artist Kirsten Brydum; “Everything Must Go,” Daniel Doherty’s 2015 tribute to Adobe Books; Floyd’s tribute to local graffiti artist Chloe, also known as Marfa; as well as a mural created by students from Graffiti Camp for Girls this spring. The latter was restored with a new piece painted by the organization’s muralist and teaching artist Nyia Luna a few days after the incident.   “For a small, community-based organization already navigating diminished arts funding, this erasure creates a real and additional burden,” wrote Torres, adding that CAMP plans to fundraise to replace the rest of the murals and sustain the future of Clarion Alley.Acknowledging that the organization had also felt its community coming together in support, Torres later added, “...We will keep seeking answers, keep advocating for our artists and community, and keep working toward solutions that honor the artists, the memories, and the history held within these walls.”AdvertisementArticle continues below this adMore Local—  The rent gap between SF and LA is 'kind of nuts'—  An army of stylists is helping San Francisco tech workers dress for dates—  Bay Area town moves to ban all tobacco and nicotine sales—  'I'd love to shake his hand': Anonymous donor saves a piece of SF Chinatown historyGet SFGATE's top stories sent to your inbox by signing up for The Daily newsletter here.Sep 6, 2026Amanda BartlettAssistant Local EditorAmanda Bartlett is an award-winning writer and the assistant local editor for SFGATE covering culture, history, science and breaking news. Prior to joining the newsroom in 2019, she worked for the Roxie Theater, Noise Pop and Frameline Film Festival. Outside of the newsroom, she hosts movie nights with Cinema SF as part of a series called "SFGATE Screens" and has also appeared as a guest on the Midnight Mass and Western Neighborhoods Project podcasts. She lives in Oakland with her fiancé and their rescue rabbit, Alberta Einstein. Send her an email at amanda.bartlett@sfgate.com.CA Mini Crossword596 people are playing right now.2,566 players solved today. 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A public arts organization in San Francisco's Mission District is experiencing significant distress following the recent erasure of several murals, leading to feelings of being "heartbroken and furious" among the community and the organization's leadership. The conflict centers on the removal and partial destruction of three murals, along with damage to a fourth, which were painted over. These murals are integral to the Clarion Alley Mural Project (CAMP), a grassroots organization established in 1992 by local artists inspired by the mural movement of the 1970s; the site currently features over 700 murals created by local artists spanning various themes, including labor issues, housing rights, and memorials.

The reported erasure occurred following reports that an employee was directed to paint over the murals, which was reported by Mission Local. The Clarion Alley Mural Project, represented by Veronica Torres, co-director of CAMP, attempted to approach the situation assuming no malicious intent, but they expressed profound frustration over the fact that the removal of these longstanding community artworks occurred without any communication with CAMP or the participating artists. This absence of consultation highlights a disconnect between the stewards of the public art and the entities making decisions about the space.

The impacted murals included specific works such as John Viola’s 2016 memorial for activist and artist Kirsten Brydum, Daniel Doherty’s 2015 tribute to Adobe Books, Floyd’s homage to local graffiti artist Chloe, and a mural created by students from Graffiti Camp for Girls. The situation has placed an additional and substantial burden on CAMP, which is already navigating diminished arts funding. As Torres noted, this erasure intensifies the existing pressures faced by a small, community-based organization.

In response to this situation, CAMP is planning to initiate fundraising efforts aimed at replacing the erased murals and ensuring the future sustainability of Clarion Alley. Furthermore, the organization has committed to continuing to seek answers, advocate for the rights of their artists and the community, and work toward solutions that properly honor the history and memories embedded within the alley walls. This ongoing effort underscores the importance of community oversight and respect for public artistic expression in shaping the cultural landscape of the neighborhood.