Ferry Building debuts Hearts in San Francisco exhibition benefiting S.F. General Hospital

A public art installation of 20 unique heart sculptures opened at the Ferry Building on Saturday, offering San Francisco residents a chance to view local artists' work while supporting San Francisco General Hospital. The exhibit serves as the lead-up to an annual auction run by the S.F. General Hospital Foundation and will remain on display through Feb. 11, with the auction scheduled for Feb. 12.

The sculptures, created by Bay Area artists, range from 16-inch tabletop pieces to 5-foot installations and depict city landmarks and scenes such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Sutro Tower and the Castro Theatre, alongside sunsets, nature scenes, geometric patterns and abstract images. Sixteen of the hearts were installed near the ferry terminus doors at the center of the Ferry Building, while four were placed near an entrance to the marketplace east of the clock tower. A 21st heart that will be included in the auction is on view at the Conservatory at One Sansome.

The S.F. General Hospital Foundation has posted images of the works and is accepting bids online, allowing residents who cannot attend in person to participate in the auction. The exhibit sits at a natural crossroads of daily commuters, ferry riders and weekend visitors to the Ferry Building Marketplace, bringing visibility to the hospital foundation’s fundraising drive at a high-traffic, civic location.

"We are thrilled to be back in the Ferry Building again this year, just as vendors around the marketplace begin to bring out their heart-shaped candies and red and pink displays," said Jenna Casey, director of communications for the hospital foundation.

For San Francisco County residents, the exhibition combines civic pride with practical support for local healthcare. Proceeds from the auction benefit San Francisco General Hospital, which relies on community philanthropy for programs and services beyond standard public funding. The public placement of the sculptures - clustered near the ferry doors and the marketplace entrance - makes the display easy to spot for commuters heading to and from the Embarcadero and for tourists navigating the clock tower plaza.

The Hearts in San Francisco exhibition also highlights the city’s creative community, showcasing how local artists translate iconic views and neighborhood character into public art that raises money for a neighborhood institution. The mix of small tabletop pieces and larger installations gives collectors a range of options, while the online bidding expands access beyond those who can attend on auction day.

Viewers can see the collection through Feb. 11 at the Ferry Building and visit the Conservatory at One Sansome to view the additional heart. The auction on Feb. 12 will determine which sculptures leave the public display and head into private or institutional collections, and it will convert community interest into direct financial support for San Francisco General Hospital.