Not only is public art visually appealing to the eye, it preserves history, tells powerful stories, and provokes thought. City College of San Francisco, CCSF, is home to several public art pieces that many have come to appreciate for both their cultural and historical significance.

However, many pieces have been removed or moved to other locations, making the general public wonder what will happen to the rest.

“Public art is important because it brings beauty and creativity to shared spaces, making our community feel more welcoming and alive. It also helps people share their stories and celebrate their culture and identity together,” stated Solihem Solomon ’26.

One of City College’s most famous pieces is St. Francis of the Guns, which was created by the artist Beniamino Bufano. The sculpture models St. Francis built from melted down guns, emphasizing a strong message against gun violence.

Another famous art piece displayed around the college is the Olmec Head, “El Rey,” a giant stone sculpture created by artist Ignacio Perez Solano. Created in 2004, the Olmec head is a carefully crafted replica of the of the original pre-Columbian artwork based from Veracruz, Mexico, preserving the significance of the ancient Olmec Civilization and culture. Its importance to the community stands as a symbol of respect for the indigenous cultures here in San Francisco and their contributions to not only society, but art as a whole.

Student artist, Georgia Michalchuk ’26, stated, “Public art such as murals can play a crucial role in placing important historical figures and/or events and different cultures on a quite literally larger scale so that communities are reminded of the history of the land they live in as well as the history of the people that live in it.”

Once inside the CCSF theatre, Diego Rivera’s Pan American Unity mural was created in 1940, and is heavily connected to the school. This huge mural was originally created at the Golden Gate International Exposition located in Treasure Island.

The mural includes three different self-portraits, one of which include Rivera’s wife, Frida Kahlo, and showcases a combination of North and Central America, emphasizing different on the importance of connecting of connecting different cultures through the universal language of art.

The school and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, SFMOMA, partnered together to restore the mural, and it was then displayed at the museum. It is set to return to the college campus in 2025 upon the completion of a new building, the Diego Rivera Theatre. Many have been eagerly awaiting its return for years.

Public art not only makes both school and cities more interesting, it encourages people to interact with history and culture on a daily basis. Without it, important tales and identities could be lost.

As more art pieces are being relocated, it raises concerns about the preservation of these works for later generations to learn from and appreciate.

“Some public art is created with the intent of being extremely site-specific, in that its meaning is directly tied to its geographical location,” said Irman Arcibal, art teacher.

He added, “If art created in this way is relocated without regard for its original intent and placement, meaning can be lost or altered as well.”