Street Art

2020 - 2021

“Street Hearts”

As the COVID pandemic dragged, I couldn’t help but notice a certain type of gloom descending on my community. Formerly vital neighborhoods with little colorful mom-and-pop shops and restaurants became boarded-up, quiet and dark, giving an almost post-apocalyptic vibe. I felt like I had to do something to brighten it up the streets and to cheer up my community.

I cut out large hearts out of canvas, embellished them with sequins, glitter, and painted with thick layers of acrylic. I later glued the hearts on boarded up storefronts and spray painted the outline, adding drips that symbolized the overflowing love in my heart that I had to give.

I had never done street art before. I started out by placing just a couple of hearts in my local Richmond district and the feedback was overwhelming. Over a few months I placed over 60 painted hearts all over San Francisco. I started getting messages from people saying that the hearts cheer them up on their commute to work, how kids are drawing colorful hearts and sending them to family and friends, and a FedEx delivery man taking pictures of the hearts for his wife while delivering packages. I received a tearful voice message from a fan when one of the hearts was taken down.

This project made me realize the power of art when it’s accessible to everyone regardless of background, age, race, and social status. The pieces become a part of the community.