New and Venerable Institutions: Rigo

Remains of Sky/Ground at Third and Mission in January, 2003. << Back
The muralist Rigo (Ricardo Gouveia) was born on Madeira Island, Portugal, and received his education in the fine arts at the San Francisco Art Institute and Stanford University. His 1995 mural "One Tree," a fixture in the City, is deceptive in its simplicity. Situated in a light industrial area, it is a stark final reminder of the natural world before the viewer is confronted by one of the chief symbols of industrialization - a freeway. The provocative mural is located at 10th Street and Bryant at the entrance to HWY 101 South. Other murals by Rigo in San Francisco are "Truth," "Extinct," "Birds/Cars," "Innercity/Home," and "Sky/Ground." The artist earned a plethora of grants, awards, and honors in the 1990s and is celebrated as an exemplar in the arena of public art. His aesthetic, rich with the flavor of Americana, is popular among San Franciscans who revere signage art. See Miracle Art and 17 Reasons.

Copyright 2002 Hank Donat
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