San Francisco, California / Public art
Diego Rivera Mural
Experience Diego Rivera's largest mural, Pan American Unity, a monumental work of art that explores the unity of art, religion, history, and technology across the Americas.
What is the Diego Rivera Mural known for?
Commonly known as Pan American Unity, this is Diego Rivera's largest free-standing mural. It depicts his vision of the unity of art, religion, history, politics, and technology in the Americas.
How big is the mural?
The mural is monumental in size, measuring 22 feet tall by 74 feet wide.
Where is the mural located?
The mural is located in San Francisco's Diego Rivera Theater, where it was installed in the lobby in 1961.
When was it created?
Diego Rivera painted the mural in 1940 during the Golden Gate International Exposition at Treasure Island in San Francisco.
Is it currently on view at SFMOMA?
No, the partnership between SFMOMA and City College of San Francisco for the mural's historic display ended in January 2024.
What should I check before going?
Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.
What to know
The Pan American Unity mural is Diego Rivera's largest work, measuring 22 feet tall by 74 feet wide. Painted in 1940, this monumental piece explores the intersection of art, religion, history, politics, and technology across the Americas. It was originally titled The Marriage of the Artistic Expression of the North and of the South on This Continent, but is now commonly known as Pan American Unity. Rivera created this masterpiece during the Golden Gate International Exposition at Treasure Island in San Francisco. The work's scale and scope are intended to reflect the unity of the Western Hemisphere. After its creation, the mural was installed in the lobby of the Diego Rivera Theater at City College of San Francisco in 1961. In a historic partnership between SFMOMA and City College of San Francisco, the mural was on view at SFMOMA through January 2024, where it was viewed by 600,000 people. This exhibition brought the work's monumental size and scope up to the same level of public accessibility as it originally intended. Looking ahead, the mural's permanent home will be part of the new Diego Rivera Performing Arts Center, which is currently under construction with a projected finish in fall 2028.
Visitor tips
- Check current location and exhibition status as the SFMOMA partnership ended in January 2024.
- Allow at least an hour to fully appreciate the monumental 74-foot width of the mural.
- Look for the specific details of technology and religion in the mural's composition.
Nearby context
Located in the heart of San Francisco, this mural is part of a broader legacy of Diego Rivera's work in the city, including his 1931 murals at the California School of Fine Arts.
Sources
Evidence and links
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Diego Rivera Mural Project - San Francisco
SFMOMA & City College of San Francisco’s partnership on the historic display of Diego Rivera’s *Pan American Unity* mural ended in January…
riveramural.org -
How San Francisco Became the Site of Diego Rivera's First U.S. Mural
In November 1930, Diego Rivera swept into San Francisco's railroad station for the first time.
sfmoma.org -
Diego Rivera
In 1961, the mural was installed in the lobby of the Diego Rivera Theater at CCSF.
diegorivera.org -
Diego Rivera's San Francisco Masterpiece - Spotlight Exhibits
In 1940, Mexican artist Diego Rivera (1886-1957) painted his vision of the unity of art, religion, history, politics, and technology in the…
exhibits.stanford.edu -
Pan American Unity: Diego Rivera's monumental mural at SFMOMA
"Pan American Unity," Diego Rivera's largest mural, is monumental both in size and scope.
koret.org