This is by Ricardo Gouveia, a Portuguese artist residing in San Francisco. From 1984-2002, Rigo used the last two digits of the current year as part of his name (in this case Rigo94) , finally settling upon “23″ in 2003. As part of TODCO’s Inner City Arts Program, Rigo worked with Sixth Street hotel tenants to create this powerful statement of community identity, painted on the Knox SRO and visible for miles. TODCO Group is a community-based housing/community development nonprofit corporation for San Francisco’s South of Market Neighborhood.
Sixth street is one of the rougher streets in the city and the work that TODCO does is really very special.
This is also by Rigo. The “Truth” mural is dedicated to Robert King Wilkerson. After 32 years of incarceration, 29 of which were spent in CCR (Closed Cell Restriction)—a minimum of 23 hours a day inside a 6 x 9 x 12-foot cell—King’s conviction was overturned in 2001. Rigo 23 developed a friendship with King following his release. The painting is on the Odd Fellows Building on Market Street.
Rigo’s is not just a muralist, his wonderful mosaic work can be seen here. His work is all over San Francisco.