Tenderloin Philz Coffee Shop Mural (3’,12’), Created 2024.

The Tenderloin is a neighborhood in downtown San Francisco known for its vibrant music scene, great food, and rich Vietnamese culture. However, it is also infamous as one of the city's most dangerous areas. Walking through the Tenderloin, you’ll encounter many unhoused individuals and people struggling with substance use, whether using, selling, or affected by drugs. This is the neighborhood I pass through every day on my way to work. Despite its challenges, the Tenderloin is an integral part of my community, full of history, resilience, and beauty.

I was given the opportunity to create a mural that highlights the positive aspects of this neighborhood. To counter the deep-rooted negative stigma surrounding the Tenderloin, I chose an uplifting color scheme. The palette is inspired by Philz Coffee but with enough variation to make the mural stand out on its own.

At the heart of the piece is the Civic Center Philz, the coffee shop I work at. Surrounding it, I illustrated buildings depicting local small businesses, which are both essential to the neighborhood’s character and often vulnerable to systemic injustices. On the left side, I’ve included the historic Hibernia Bank, an architectural landmark that withstood the Great Earthquake and remains a symbol of resilience in the Tenderloin. In the top left corner, I’ve featured an image from the "Screaming Queens," a pivotal drag demonstration from the Compton’s Cafeteria Riots, which played a crucial role in LGBTQ+ history. To the right, there's a portrait of jazz legend Miles Davis, who famously performed at the Black Hawk nightclub, a nod to the neighborhood’s rich musical heritage.

Through this mural, I hope to celebrate the strength, culture, and history of the Tenderloin, reminding people of all the beauty this community has to offer.