Precita Eyes Muralists

Great place to stock up on quality art supplies and they also have great local artists work on display. Great staff and history rooted in the neighborhood. The murals nearby have a rich history which Precita Eyes has a heavy hand in. They also have walking tours and other activities for the youth and for the community. Really worth a visit, check em out!

Best artist store/community!!! I love going there and connecting with my people, awesome place to get some unique paints and art!! Also the workshops are THE BESTS!!

Awesome experience! The highlight of our time in SF!

My girlfriend and the mother of my child worked on a mural with these guys some years back so I thought it would be an interesting place to familiarize myself with and bring my family and daughter to. I'm pleased to say that I was correct. The art here is fantastic and brought a whole new perspective of SF artists and their contributions to the city. They also have some really interesting paints, local art for sale, and mural projects that you can sign up for. They even have a little studio in the back. It's a little pricey but well worth it if you're looking to support your local artists. This is also an interesting spot for postcards. Postcards are kind of scarce in the city so I like to make sure and point out places that have them. I didn't get a chance to talk to any of the workers or artists that were working in the back but all in all the atmosphere was welcoming and warm; a true testament to SF artwork and the mission district.

I would highly recommend this tour. We attended on a Sunday afternoon and our tour guide was Patricia. She has a genuine love for the Mission area and a real care for the community she lives in, this community is facing some real pressures. But she showed how art can create change and strengthen community and her knowledge of the murals was amazing.

I really love the visiting center ! And the murals are fantastic ! I myself painted some of them ! ❤this is my hood 😂👍

Awesome experience, tour guides are really informative

The Precita Eyes mural tour is a wonderful walk through the history of San Francisco and the mission, as seen from the perspective of the murals and artwork. The staff are super knowledgeable and really give tremendous insight into the politics, culture, and social environment behind the artwork. I learned a lot and had a great time. Highly recommended.

I couldn't tell you which murals have been sponsored by Precita Eyes and which haven't, but I can tell you the Calle 24 cultural district, the Mission neighborhood that gravitates around 24th Street, would be a lot bleaker without them, whether it's the politically driven messages of the murals on Clarion Alley or the rich cultural images on Balmy Alley...and frankly everywhere else. This shop reflects the central location for the Precita Arts Muralists Association which is responsible for over a hundred of them. It's quite conspicuous by the artistic spillover of mosaic tiles onto the sidewalk. Founded by Susan and Luis Cervantes, the organization just celebrated its 45th anniversary, which provides a good excuse for a visit to get educated on all the colorful murals that have resulted from their tutelage. The staff here organizes walking tours, offers classes for aspiring muralists, and sell prints and postcards of the most popular murals to the rest of us. You should check it out if just to be exposed to all the colorful mural art all at once. RELATED - Exploring the Mission? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2NHtst6

Went on a tour here last year and let me tell you, it was the most white-washed cringe inducing thing I've ever experienced. I think the tour guide's name was Susan (I could be wrong) but she was an older white woman who spent the entire tour basically bragging about all of the pieces she contributed to as opposed to sharing the history behind them, the significance they hold to the bipoc community, it was just awful. Not only that but we started off the tour with her arguing with the girl who organized our tour, it was so awkward. For no reason either, she gave us the incorrect meeting spot so we couldn't find her for the first 20min of the tour and nobody was in the actual office to redirect or help us... when we finally found her (the tour guide) on the opposite side of the park from where she said we'd meet, she was pissed and made it quite the point that our entire tour has been ruined since it would be too rushed. Girl, then why'd you spend 10+ minutes at each mural talking about yourself and how amazing you are for helping?? I'm white, I can say with confidence she embodied the "white savior." The murals are amazing and everyone should absolutely visit them, just maybe find a better tour guide :/

Contrary to what 2 or 3 people might think, Susan Kelk and her affiliates DO NOT own the narrative of the Mission District or it's many murals. There are also many better places to get a high quality mural tour- look for one led by locals and Natives, not a bunch of entitled Karen's who don't actually know anything about the Mission District and the rich Latino culture found here. It's heartening to see that this place is finally getting the reputation it deserves. The Caucasity is truly laughable

A Community based Art group, they have a walking tour of the SF Mission murals. There is loads of history, art, protest slogans, biography, and political statements worked into these amazing murals. The art work is all over the Mission- telling stories and inspiring artists all over the world. If you need some help finding the alleys, garage doors and buildings- sign up for a Saturday tour. You'll want to know the stories, artists and history. The book "Things to do in San Francisco before you die" calls out the murals... each time I go, I see something new, and after walking all over you can stop in at a local cafe or dessert place- make it a fun day.

I love this organization. I love the SF MOMA, DeYoung and Legion of Honor as much as the next San Franciscan who tries to immerse themselves in the "culture" this city has to offer. Precita Eyes is art for the people. Precita's murals are thought-provoking and really speak to issues of class struggle, racism, oppression and other relevant issues to communities of color. I met Susan Cervantes twice for a mural we needed at a school I worked for. She is a lovely person who is passionate about what she does. I can't say enough about the value of supporting local artists having that reflects the lives of the marginalized people of SF. Whenever I see their murals I feel that they speak to me. See: http://flickr.com/photos/calmenda/sets/72157603458343094/ I have yet to take one of the tours that they offer on the weekend, but I'll make a point to do so when I get back from the holidays.

Number one thing to say: AMAZING! Love street art? Can't wait to see all the amazing murals across the Mission district? Definitely stop by this arts center before you start your walk. I wanted to join their tour but we couldn't make it on time, so we bought the map and did a self-guided tour. Of course you don't get to know all the info, but still you know exactly where to head to, as most of the murals are highlighted with different numbers and their artists' names on it. My knowledge about the murals before coming here was zero. I learned everything from a very gentle man, who even shared some specific info like which were the oldest murals, what should I see in the time I had designated for my tour, etc... On my next trip to SF I will certainly book the tour!

This was a bit painful. We love a good tour and are always in awe of the art around San Francisco and thought this would be a great way to learn about it but unfortunately we were in a group that was WAY too big. There was a birthday group that signed up for this tour - there were at least 20 of them - that should have gone separately so they could enjoy it. This tour should have been capped at 15. We couldn't hear our guide and it was a bit chaotic. We left midway through because we weren't getting a lot out of the tour. I also have to include that it was really cold out, so that also was a limiting factor. This is in no way a reflection of the murals or the artists - because they are amazing and I encourage you to see them because it's totally worth it. I would think twice about booking this tour.

Spitballs of Sarcasm..... Pros: Lots of beautiful art can be viewed within a few blocks. Nice value. Cons: Tour guide was so spicy my ears puckered from the tartness. More walking from your parking space than during the walking tour. Suggestion: When making a tour reservation, ask for a friendly guide. They're all knowledgeable. Star Ratings: - Overall: 3 ( would be a "4", but the guide's attitude bruised my gentle psyche ) - Location: 3 - Shop: 4 - Tour: 5 - Neighborhood: 3 - Guide's Knowledge: 5 - Guide's Passion: 5 - Guide's Attitude: 2 - Value: 5 - Parking: 0 A group of friends in the San Jose area gets together at least once a month to do something sociable and, of course, have a nice meal. For November 2013, we decided to go on a walking tour of the Mission District in SF. The couple in charge of organizing the event took a similar tour a few years ago, but I can't say for sure if it was with Precita. - The Shop: The tour starts at the Precita shop in the heart of the Mission. It's a lot easier to find the place than it is to locate parking, but that literally goes with the territory. The shop is a very interesting mix of things related to mural painting and art in general. Colorful, friendly and fun. - Tour: We walked along neighboring streets and a couple of alleys to view the murals...many of which were created by very talented people. Our guide helped us gain an appreciation for the art by explaining the process of composition, meaning of various symbols and stories behind the murals. This work is alien to us suburbanites, but you can acquire an appreciation when placed in a proper context. - Tour Guide: There are many who volunteer their services to Precita. I forgot the name of our guide, but she was a youngish woman, maybe 30, who said "I'm an Italian from New Jersey who taught elementary school kids so don't be surprised if I yell". There was very little irony in that statement...and also one reason I moved away from the East Coast more than 30 years ago! She was very informative and passionate about the art she described along the tour, but being brash and brassy got in the way of fully communicating with her audience. When a drill sergeant commands you to attention, you do it. That was her approach. She might have been in tune with the art, but the easy-going middle aged group she led received spitballs of sarcasm among the information. - Cost and Value: The charge of $10 per person was a great deal. In fact, at the end of our tour, each couple gave the guide a separate $10 ( mainly for her passion ). However, she indicated the cash would be donated to the Precita organization. That was the nicest touch of the day. - Parking: As tight as a pair of undersized underwear pulled from the dryer while still damp. Or maybe it's a lucky day, a car is leaving its spot and there's an hour left on the meter ( all meters are 2 hours...bring lots of quarters ). We parked in a large garage 8-10 blocks away. My wife and I would definitely suggest a walking tour from the Precita people. However, to get the most enjoyment from the experience (especially if you're driving a distance), call ahead to see which guides are available. According to the reviews on Yelp, Precita has several to recommend.

This is an interesting and eye opening education regarding the mural art of the Mission District. Patricia Rose is super passionate about the art, the artists, and the historic significance of all. I learned a great deal and gained some perspective of the history as well as the meanings behind the mural art and the latino culture from which it didn't necessarily originate, but became a symbol and expression of the latino community. Don't confuse mural art with graffiti... it is not in any way shape or form related. We toured a couple ally ways, and then took to the streets to view art on the sides of buildings around the couple of blocks. The Mission District has the largest concentration of mural art in the country. If I were to offer any suggestion to Precitas Eyes, it would be to cut the slide show down a little, by not showing slides of art work we were about to step outside and see. The history lesson was great though. After the tour, we walked around quite a bit more, checking out the other ally ways that were not on the tour. There is a lot going on in the Mission District. A great deal of change is coming. And, I fear that cultural art such as this will soon fade away...

While perusing Yelp to find something culturally invigorating to do in the Mission I stumbled upon Precita Eyes and read about their walking tour. Luckily it was starting right as we got there on Sunday around 1:30. With our student Id's my friend and I paid $8 each and got to sit in a small slide show/lecture with one of the muralists. I found the lecture very interesting & I learned a bit about the history of mural art through the years in the Mission and I got a sense of how an organization like Precita Eyes can play such an integral part in shaping a community and capturing its sense of culture. After the lecture the muralist led us on a walking tour of Balmey Alley and the surrounding neighborhoods. Around 3pm we separated from the tour group because it was cold and the tour was moving at a slow pace. It's a good idea to do this tour because the muralist does a good job of explaining the symbolism in some of the murals and she gives you a little background on each one and the artists. Cheers Precita Eyes! Keep up the good work!

We wanted to see the murals in the Mission neighborhood but did not know where they were located or where to begin. Cindy at the mural arts center was very helpful. They have a map for $5 that shows you where the murals are located. Cindy pointed out where the more popular murals were located on the map. I definitely recommend picking up this map if you are a huge arts fan. We enjoyed all the murals on our trip and I took about 300+ photos of all of them. TONS of murals! The arts center has books and postcards of these murals for sale. Many murals have been painted over for new murals but the books and postcards here have preserved the images of them so they are not lost forever. Definitely stop in here for a quick visit before checking out the murals of the Mission. You'll learn a lot of information.

One could take the walk down Balmy and the surrounding areas to enjoy the murals, but without a guide, a lot would be lost. I do want to hear about the artists and the history. Patricia, a long time resident of this community, was the perfect person to share the passion. I highly recommend taking this tour. Come with an open mind and some good walking shoes.

This company literally offers tours of the Mission murals yet does not offer a tour in Spanish. They literally give tours of San Francisco's Spanish neighborhood but don't even offer tours in Spanish. If one wanted a tour in Spanish, it would cost sixty dollars, the price of a private tour. A tour in English would only cost 20 dollars. Terribly disappointed at this ignorance.

The center offers weekend tours of dozens of colorful murals in the neighborhood, explaining the political and social messages their creators hoped to convey. The best place to view these spectacular works of art, most of them done by local residents, is Balmy Alley, home to more than thirty of them. Strolling along, you won't believe you're in the heart of the Mission, what with a profusion of bougainvillea spilling over garden fences. The alley runs from 24th Street to 25th Street, between Treat and Harrison. Aspiring muralists can purchase art supplies from the Visitors Center or get information about participating in upcoming projects.

Susan Cervantes, founder and executive director of Precita Eyes Muralist is an amazing woman, who has dedicated her life to bring vibrant, cultural and historical mural art to the masses. Many of the amazing works of artists such as Susan Cervantes, Elba Rivera, Juana Alicia, Catalina Gonzalez, Jan Cook, the late Luis Cervantes, Judith Knepher Jamerson to name a few, are located all over the city but are concentrated mainly in the Mission District. Chances are any mural you have seen in the city, in some way or another was made possible by the efforts of Precita Eyes Muralists. Murals are the people's art, because you don't need to have money to appreciate them, just walk down the street and take a look, learn, share and understand the story, the message. Want to learn more about this great organization? Take a mural tour led by a knowledgeable volunteer or take a class and learn the art behind the art! This place is also a terrific place to find gifts for the artistically inclined folks in your circle. They offer painting supplies at affordable prices and also classes and workshops that would make a great gifts. Support the arts, support public art, support accessible public art!

I wish I could have taken a tour, but I did most of my mural viewing before noon, when they open on Sundays. Despite already seeing it all (though I'm sure a tour would have shown so much more!), I had to visit the center to have a look around and visit with Patricia, a fabulous artist who's been with Precita Eyes for-like-ever. It was like walking into her home. In the shop, drooled over prints and totes, but settled on a postcard that I could take back to NC without a problem. Go see them! Take a tour! Give to the amazing cause!

I haven't taken their tours because I used to live 1 block from them in the Mission District. I've seen all of their work (there are other murals and creations equally as profound and politically-oriented)...I love that they have classes and even if you don't take them, the knowledge shared freely is inspiring.

Five stars to this organization for making our community more beautiful. The murals at the Alemany Farmers market were a community project organized by Precita Eyes. Respect.

One thing I love about living off 24th Street is that I am surrounded by mural art. I can easily lose an afternoon, walking around and looking at the murals. We have so many of them! Precita Eyes has been creating, curating and preserving murals in this community since the seventies. I just cannot say enough about how much their work has brought this community. Please take the time to enjoy one of their mural walks. If you want to learn the back stories of some of the great art we look at every day, this is the way to do it! The tours are run by local mural artists who are also Precita Eyes staff. They are just fascinating! After yesterdays, tour, I'm sitting here staring at the big blank wall in my back yard, pondering the possibilities. Real art is inspirational and I am certainly feeling inspired. Thank You Precita Eyes!

Adding a little color to the neighborhood is never a bad thing. I've seen a lot of the murals and gone on independent mural walks before, but the tour offered through the organization that created and takes care of a lot of the murals was nice. The tours are a bit informal, but they have a slide show before the walking tour that goes through the history of murals in general and Chicano art before focusing on SF's murals. The mural walk focused on Balmy Alley and never strayed more than a few blocks from the Precita Eyes office on 24th and Harrison. Overall, it was nice to get a bit of perspective on what has otherwise just been eye candy. I would have liked to learn a bit more about the murals that exist outside of the two block radius covered, but I guess that will have to wait for another time.

Not a very good tour for the money my class paid. While the murals were very good, the older woman who guided the tour yelled at the kids, promoted a strange agenda and was anti government. Really strange that my school signs up for this and charges 14 dollars per child for an hour tour that is pushing Socialist agenda rather than just speaking about the amazing murals in the mission and what they mean and who the represent. This is the second time on this tour and it was better years ago but maybe the old lady hates trump, bet hey who likes him anyway, I was just hoping for some educational information about the murals, not a lecture from this old artist.

They say they offer a discounted price for residents ($15 vs.$20) but refused to give us the SF resident discount. We didn't mind paying $20 but the bait and switch is unacceptable. Additionally, the guide was not particularly knowledgable about the murals beyond that ones the center had been involved in and made us sit inside and listen to an hour long lecture prior to the walking tour, then sped through the actual murals. She also felt the need to ram her brand of SF art hippy politics down our throats. Overall, I would recommend looking for a tour with a guide who is more knowledgable about the Mission's art history.

If you ever get a chance to take a mural walk...do it. There are areas of the mission that i think people, especially tourists, dont know exist, but they are chalk full of culture and beauty. I volunteered at this center a few years back, and it was an amazing experience. I did it for Project 20, to help me get rid of my parking tickets, and never expected to have the experience I had there. I even got to help fix a mural. Go to alemany farmers market. The whole thing was done by the mural center. I helped varnish!. Check out the womens center in the mish...amazing.

Great tour today. Received lots of Balmy alley history as well as evolution of murals, brushes, spray and stencils. This is a fantastic way to learn about the real San Francisco without riding a red tour bus.

I want to give Precita Eyes more stars, and maybe I will eventually, but I haven't been blown away by anything they themselves do. The murals in the Mission deserve five stars, and in that Precita Eyes promotes appreciation of Mission murals, that's great. But the place itself is just kind of here. I bought a mural map from them once, which I haven't used very often.

Awesome group of folks who help get murals painted around SF, especially the Mission. Susan Cervantes is cool and so are her family and all the artists there. I donated my photos of one Precita Eyes event to the center.

RUN THE OTHER WAY. I suffered so you don't have to! "I'M NOT GOOD WITH DATES OR NAMES." I kid you not. Our tour guide must have said this about 50 times to whomever asked her a question. I swear. It was dumbfounding. I wish I could have my time and money back. And the time and money of all the people I brought with me. That's about 6 people I brought and paid for. About $90 I paid for a tour guide who knew less than the people she was guiding. WOW. It hurts just thinking about how much time was wasted on this SHOCKINGLY INEPT tour. For the record: I have paid much more money for decent tours, which are great memories the cities I visited. Some of the best tours are in San Francisco. This is THE WORSE TOUR IN THE WORLD, hands down. I've been to many cities. This is THE WORSE! The guide was a nice, shy young lady. I'm not blaming her. I blame Precita Eyes for assigning her as our guide. She would take us from one mural to another and basically if there was a picture of a girl, I swear to you, she would say, that's a girl. And when someone asked her about the history of it, she would say I'M NOT GOOD WITH DATES OR NAMES. This young lady proceeded to lead us through back alleys in the Mission District, which were awesome, but she basically always just told us what was in the mural (a girl, a bridge, a dog), or she would say, I'm not kidding, "I'm going to let the picture speak for itself." I sometimes honestly thought she was just kidding. She was not kidding. The laugh was solely on me. This was a 2.5 hour NIGHTMARE. We had a tour guide who was 1) immune to dates or names 2) SHE told you what was in the paintings 3) actually had the temerity to say, I'm going to let the mural speak for itself! Amazing! But HERE'S THE MOST AMAZING PART. There were other tours occurring around us. Our TOUR GUIDE started being transfixed by the other tour guides?!?!?! She would SPACE OUT and listen to the what the competent tour guides were saying??!?!?!?!? Incredible. It was as if the guy from the Naked Gun was giving tours, except he would have been much more fun, and not cost $90. Imagine walking in the baking sun, not being entertained at all, and hearing other tour guides around giving an awesome tour you were not a pat of. DON"T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU!!!! THIS TOUR SUCKS! GO ANYWHERE ELSE!!! GO GET MUGGED IN AN ALLEY. IT'S MORE FUN.

So this past weekend was a beautiful one in San Francisco, and I took advantage by taking The Precita Mural walking tour.. I'm an art lover and artist who enjoys the murals in SF. Located in the Mission, the tour started in the studio of Precita Eyes with a slide show presenting basic information and examples of murals done all over the world and throughout history for about 15-20 min. Then the walking tour began. It was only a few blocks in length, but there was so much to see and learn about within the first ten feet. The tour also introduced us to a private alley named Balmy Street, which is covered in art work, some new and much of it old. Had I not taken the tour I would never have known it was there. Like an outdoor museum, wall to wall, on both sides paint and symbolism as long as the block will take you. It was a wonderful little hidden suprise. The tour was at least 2 hours, the leader who is a painter and art teacher was very knowledgeable and pleasant. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in art, San Francisco's history, or who enjoys learning fun facts about the murals which surround us in this great place, or to anyone who wants to spend a great day outdoors. I can now point out who did what work (weather it be a local figure, children from the mission girls school, or commissioned-worldly artisans). I came away with a better understanding and appreciation for this truly amazing city we live in.

I so appreciate what Precita Eyes does in The community. Great walking tour down Balmy Alley, around Garfield Park and a nearby school. We've been on a couple of tours and especially enjoyed the ones led by Jorge. Highly recommend for locals and tourists alike.

I have lived in San Francisco for a long time and never really appreciated the beauty of the murals in the Mission until I took the walking tour of the Murals. This should be a required activity for every San Franciscan. The tour is informative and interesting. Patricia was a great tour leader-- she was passionate about the art , explained things clearly and willing to answer any questions. I took the tour of the murals on 24th Street and now want to take the tour of the 16th Street murals.

I'm blown away by the murals. Beautiful and inspiring. Just learned this center also has great classes for Toddlers and Kids. They really allow the kids to 'invent themselves' as artists by exploring materials in a no holding back fashion. check out them out!

Attended an awesome mural workshop for educators here - amazing energy, great help and vital community space! VIVA LA PRECITA EYES!!!!! They did the beszt mural on teh face of the planet - on the women's center bldg in the Mission... they RULE!

If you arrive early in the city on a weekend, sign up for the historic walking tour of the murals in the Mission. Amazing experience of the cultural epi center of the Mission district.

Precita Eyes designed a mural at the corner of 19th and Noe Streets in the Castro that is one ugly eye sore. It's called a "Celebration of Love" and that's just the beginning of how tacky this piece of junk is. Painted in 2008 it includes every possible cliched imagery from the 1970s. Dire.

We did the mural tour with Henry Sultan. Had a great time. Came away with a new appreciation of mural art.

The walking tour was amazing! I've spent a lot of time in the Mission and I had no idea there were so many murals! Our guide was excellent. He gave great explanations about the murals. I learned a lot and loved getting to see the Mission in a whole new light.

I went here with my sociology class. It was very interesting and I loved seeing the murals, but our tour guy was only ok. He wasn't very informative. I loved the tour however and saw a lot of great things.

A cultural asset to the Mission. Do you want to learn about the history behind the murals? Painting workshops? Community art projects? Painting supplies? Art books? Postcards and more? Precita Eyes has it all.

I would say: save your money! My tour guide was very mean on a class field trip

Great tour! So helpful to have the context behind these amazing murals. They are a treasure.

Perfect way to experience the beauty and the culture of the Mission District. Patricia Rose is a wonderful muralist/tour guide and just a joy of a person! Highly recommend.