Acclaimed Artist Betsabeé Romero Unveils JFK Promenade Sculptures
Six temporary large-scale sculptures by world-renowned Mexican artist Betsabeé Romero have been installed along the JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park, reenergizing the permanently car-free space and highlighting sustainability.
The sculptures are crafted from repurposed tires, paint, mirrors, metal, and wooden bases, combining urban materials with artistic vision to reflect themes of movement, transformation, and reclaiming public space. The artworks, made possible through a partnership between SF Rec and Park, nonprofit Illuminate, Building 180, and the Sijbrandij Foundation, are located along the Promenade between Conservatory Drive East and Conservatory Drive West and will be on display through March 2026.
Since becoming a permanent car-free promenade following voter approval in 2022, the 1.5-mile stretch has emerged as one of Golden Gate Park’s most vibrant and beloved destinations, drawing pedestrians, cyclists, families, and visitors from across the city and beyond. Romero’s installation is the latest addition to the JFK Promenade, which has become a celebrated platform for innovative public art.
“Betsabeé’s intricate sculptures are both beautiful and thought-provoking, and they’ve captivated audiences around the world. Here in San Francisco, though, they carry a deeper meaning—honoring the story of a street transformed into a shared space for people,” said SF Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “We’re proud to showcase her work, which helps ensure the Promenade remains a place that sparks creativity, connection, and joy.”
Romero is a celebrated visual artist known for transforming cars and car parts—especially tires—into large-scale sculptures that blend pre-Columbian motifs with themes of mobility, migration, and cultural resilience. Her work, spanning sculpture, printmaking, and photography, has been featured in over 100 solo exhibitions across five continents and is held in major collections including LACMA, the British Museum, and Daros Latinamerica in Switzerland.
“Golden Gate Park is one of the most magnificent parks in the world—an oasis of reflection and imagination in the heart of a dynamic city like San Francisco,” said Romero. “By working with deconstructed car parts and other urban remnants, my intention is to underscore the act of reclaiming space—replacing noise and pollution with beauty, movement, and healing—and to help shape a new narrative rooted in sustainability, reinvention, and our shared humanity.”
Since closing to vehicle traffic in April 2020, the JFK Promenade has become one of San Francisco’s most visited open spaces. Once part of the City’s high-injury network, the space has since been transformed into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly hub featuring dozens of accessibility upgrades by Rec and Park and SFMTA, along with a free shuttle, public pianos, seating areas, lawn games, and live music.
