“Indigenous Woman is not Invisible”, a series of murals in San Francisco Bay Area
at the Magic Theatre, Fort Mason, San Francisco
Indigenous Women Are Not Invisible, My Body Not Yours / Latex-acrylic on wall / 120 sq ft / 2022 / Located in the lobby of the Magic Theatre in Fort Mason, San Francisco.
The image of this indigenous woman is based on four native women from the territory that we now call America. A woman of Mochica ancestry in Peru, Nukak native to the Colombian Amazon, Ohlone, Native Americans of the Bay Area and Northern California and Yuma and Pápago from the area that now borders Arizona and Mexico. On her chest, you can read “My Body Not Yours”. as a sign that indigenous women also have reproductive rights. In her right ear she wears a “Chakana”, a four thousand years old symbol of the indigenous people of Tahuantinsuyo (now part of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina). And in her left ear an earring with the inscription “Say Her Name”, which is a social movement that emerged to denounce police brutality against women.
Commissioned by The Magic Theatre, San Francisco, California.
at the Red Poppy Art House, Folsom @ 23rd Street
Indigenous Women Are Not Invisible / Latex-acrylic on wood, mounted on the wall / 200 sq ft / 2023
Located at the corner of Folsom and 23rd Street in San Francisco, this mural is part of a series of four works dedicated to making Indigenous women visible in the Bay Area. The central figure is a fusion of identities from across the Americas—Mochica from Peru, Nukak from the Colombian Amazon, Ohlone from Northern California, and Yuma and Pápago from the Arizona-Mexico border—representing the strength and diversity of Indigenous cultures.
Surrounding her are symbols of the Lady of Cao, the first known female ruler of ancient Peru, whose discovery redefined narratives of power and leadership. Her garments and adornments, found in her burial site, echo the resilience and legacy of Indigenous women. Commissioned by Red Poppy Art House and Intersection for the Arts, this mural honors their enduring presence and contributions.
at CAST (Community Arts Stabilization Trust)
Indigenous Goddess are not invisible / Acrylic on canvas, triptych / 132 x 72 inches / 2023
Situated at 447 Minna Street within the Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST), this portable mural is a component of Adrian’s ongoing series aimed at bringing visibility to Indigenous Women. Specifically, it highlights Indigenous women from the Americas, Filipino and African diasporas. Originating from his art residency at CAST, Adrian concurrently mentored budding artists from San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood. Crafted on a triptych canvas for portability, the mural aligns with CAST’s vision of mobility across various community institutions in the Bay Area. Commissioned by CAST, it serves as a dynamic testament to cultural representation and community engagement.
at Good Vibrations, Lakeshore Street, Oakland
The Indigenous woman is not invisible, My body not yours (4) / This piece was painted on the metal sliding door of Good Vibrations in Oakland, a women-founded cooperative supporting women’s rights.
The Indigenous Woman is not Invisible series honors my Abuelas and four Native women from the Americas, blending ancestral symbols with messages on reproductive rights and justice for Indigenous and Black women.
the Original Drawing
La Mujer indigena no es invisible, mi cuerpo no tuyo / The Indigenous Woman is not invisible, my body not yours / watercolor and acrylic on arches paper / 27 x 40 inches / 2022 / My intention with this piece is to reclaim the narratives of indigenous women, ensuring that they are seen, heard, and honored as living, powerful forces shaping the future, not shadows of the past.
Poem
Four faces of my land unite,
in a single form, their spirits ignite.
Mochica, Nukak, Ohlone stand tall,
and Yuma from dreams, she answers the call.
With painted face, her soul’s set free,
a woven hat bears threads of peace.
“My body is mine,” her voice resounds,
Chakana’s force in her heart abounds.
An idea to create the mural of the Indigenous Woman who is not invisible, on a building on the corner of Polk and Ellis in San Francisco.
New mural in Oakland, 2024
“River to the Sky”
Mural at Turk @ Hyde streets in San Francisco
Poem
A river rises to the sky,
from the streets of pain,
where shadows lie.
Dreams of jazz and colors bloom
on the wall of dark memories,
Miles and Billie cross the gloom.
A hummingbird sings the sweet plea of hope
In a shining ancestral flight
while poppies give us a breath of peace.
the waters lift darkness to light.
River to the Sky / Latex-acrylic on wall / 2700 sq ft / December 2021 – January 2022 / Commissioned by The Luggage Store Gallery and the Someland Foundation, this mural stands as a testament to the power of art in fostering community connection and healing.
This mural was created after several conversations with members of the Tenderloin community to pay homage to the Black Hawk jazz club where Miles Davies and Billie Holiday performed in the 1950s-60s on that same corner. It also includes a tribute to the BLM movement and to the California poppies, which are medicinal plants. The zigzag forming a river that goes to the sky is inspired by Ohlone designs, which is the territory where the mural is located and also a Mochica design, which is my ancestral culture. The idea of this mural was to create a space/sanctuary, where the residents of the Tenderloin could find a place of peace and relaxation, and after a few months it became that way, thanks to the support of Urban Alchemy and the City of San Francisco, is now a park, with mini gym facilities, small games for children, a place to take your dog for a walk and free coffee and tea.
The sketch for this mural was created on canvas, with acrylic and pencil.
“Natura-Musica”
Mural at the lobby of Freight & Salvage, berkeley
Natura-Musica / Latex-acrylic on wall / 130 sq ft / 2023 / Commissioned by Freight & Salvage, the mural serves as a tribute to the synergy of art, music, and the splendor of the natural world.
Located in the lobby of Freight & Salvage, home of traditional music in Berkeley, California, this mural harmonizes the realms of nature and music, with marine imagery, celestial elements, and metamorphoses. It mirrors the vitality springing forth from water, intertwining with melodies. Ohlone patterns inspire a meandering river, symbolizing the fusion of nature and humanity.
Figures emerge, playing instruments inspired by their natural surroundings, including musicians who have performed at Freight & Salvage. Alongside them, motifs like dancing trout and blooming poppies further enhance the connection between music, nature, and cultural legacy.
Thanks to PC Muñoz and Lindsey Crawford.
“Dear Angel Don’t try to Colonize me”
As part of the Festival Manifest Differently
Mural at Clarion Alley, San Francisco
Dear Angel don’t try to colonize me / Querido ángel no trates de colonizarme / Latex-acrylic on wall / 300 sq ft / 2023 / Commissioned by Manifest Differently, produced by Megan Wilson & Kim Shuck
Based on a drawing of the same name, where Adrian represents a dream, where an angel rests on the head of an indigenous young person from the South American jungle trying to impose his ideas, but the young indigenous person invokes the ancestral power of water, fire and Pachamama (earth) and animals and sacred symbols come to their aid and petrify the angel. The mural displays Native American iconography, with colors inspired by the plumage of sacred birds. The mural was painted during the Manifest Differently arts and activism festival.
Thanks to Lindsey Crawford for helping me make this mural.
“Hank Wilson mural”
Mural at the lobby of the Ambassador Hotel, San Francisco
Hank Wilson at the Ambassador Hotel / Latex-acrylic on wall / 250 sq ft / 2023 / Commissioned by the Ambassador Hotel which is in full restoration and active. The mural is located in the lobby of the Ambassador Hotel in San Francisco, California.
Mural in honor of the leader and pioneer activist of LGBT rights in San Francisco, Hank Wilson, a long term AIDS activist and survivor, who was the manager of the Ambassador Hotel during the difficult times of AIDS, and who used the hotel to help the sick. The Bay Area Reporter noted that “Over more than 30 years, he played a pivotal role in San Francisco’s LGBT history”.
“Love story of hummingbirds and ancestors”
Artist in Residence at Google new campus at Mountain View
Love story of hummingbirds and ancestors / Latex-acrylic on wall / 1300 sq ft / 2021 / Part of Adrián’s residency at Google’s new headquarters, the mural invites reflection on the interconnectedness of life, heritage, and the natural world.
The mural at Google’s Mountain View facility weaves a personal narrative, drawing from Adrián’s ties to his grandparents in northern Peru and the magic of hummingbirds. Commissioned by Google and Gray Area, it celebrates cultural diversity and the mystical symbolism of hummingbirds, bridging the physical and spiritual realms. The black, white, and vibrant yellow colors create an ethereal effect, reflecting the relationship between memory and nature.
“Ancestral Hummingbird”
Mural at the corner of 24th Street @ Osage, San Francisco
Poem
Sacred hummingbird, messenger of the wind,
you make the invisible visible.
With you, I lose my fear,
with you, I am everywhere.
We move our wings together,
with you by my side, I feel invincible
The visit of Ancestral Hummingbirds, we are not invisible / Latex-acrylic on wall / 314 sq ft / 2023 / Sponsored by Café La Boheme and Dance Mission Theatre, celebrates our ancestral bond with water and the enduring wisdom of the hummingbird motif.
Located at 24th Street and Osage Alley, across from the 24th Street and Mission Bart Station in SF, this mural is part of a series reviving ancient hummingbirds from Central and South American cultures. Revered for their symbolism of strength and resilience, hummingbirds embody spiritual renewal. Known as Qente in Quechua, they teach clarity in life, learning from experiences and adapting.
“Dragons & BLM”
Mural at the corner of Grant Avenue @ Vinton, San Francisco
Protective Dragons & BLM / Metal paint on metal fence / 168 sq ft / 2020 / Commissioned by Project Artivism, Restore 49, this mural highlights the transformative power of dragons and their ability to inspire and protect the community in times of challenge and change.
The mural at the corner of 521 Grant Avenue and Vinton in San Francisco’s Chinatown pays homage to the power of Dragons, iconic and magical figures in Chinese culture. Dragons symbolize transformation, strength, and protection, and in this mural they emerge amid the initials BLM, uniting their ancestral power with the contemporary call for social justice.
Created at the start of the pandemic, when the city was paralyzed, rigorous health protocols were followed to create this work, responding to the urgent demands for social justice at the time.
New Murals in Mexico & Peru
Ancestral Hummingbird and the world / Latex-acrylic on wall / 150 sq ft / 2023 / Located in the BUNDO cafe and bookstore, Xalapa, Mexico.
Mural part of the series of Ancestral Hummingbirds that Adrian is creating in the world to highlight the presence of this important creature of the native symbolism of the Americas.
Commissioned by BUNDO.
Mural at “Huerto de Osos Perezosos”, Xalapa, Mexico. Link of this amazing retreat place
Ancestral Hummingbird and the red sun / Latex-acrylic on wall / 150 sq ft / 2023 / Located in the KAMBALACHE Cultural Center & theatre, Lima, Peru.
A mural that sings with the ancestral fluttering of hummingbirds, guardians of the visible and invisible in pre-Hispanic cultures. In their dance, they carry messages of memory and creation, uniting thought and action, dream and matter. Adrian weaves this metaphor in colors and shapes, reminding us that what we imagine in our soul comes to life through our hands, in community, in the eternal pulse of doing and remembering.
Private mural in Lima, Peru
Murals in Procida, Italy
Murals created following the rhythm and energy of life on the island of Procida, Italy, emphasizing medicinal plants and marine life. They are on opposite sides of the island, as seen on the map. At Il Casotto and Il Gazebo restaurants.
