The Mosaic Mural Years of Larkin Street Youth Center

In this episode, Peter reflects on the twelve-year journey of a mosaic mural project that began with the Larkin Street Youth Center and grew into one of San Francisco’s most enduring public artworks. Through the hands of young people navigating homelessness, instability, and deep transition, art became both refuge and expression.

 

With 96 mosaic panels installed in Powell Street Station and additional works throughout the city, this is a story of public art born from collaboration, resilience, and a profound sense of place. Peter shares the process behind the work—how the murals were built, who contributed, and what it meant to build something permanent in a world that often felt anything but.