Check it out!
By Warren Pederson, Staff WriterJan 24, 2026 - SF Chronicle
A heartfelt exhibition of 20 unique sculptures, the lead-up to an annual auction benefiting San Francisco General Hospital, opened Saturday at the Ferry Building.
The heart sculptures, designed by Bay Area artists, will be on display through Feb. 11, then auctioned off Feb. 12 by the S.F. General Hospital Foundation.
“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 reds and pink displays,” said Jenna Casey, director of communications for the hospital foundation.
Hearts in San Francisco, a token of love for the city, returns for annual benefit
Greg
Quick and Dirty
A heartfelt exhibition of 20 unique sculptures, the lead-up to an annual auction benefiting San Francisco General Hospital, opened Saturday at the Ferry Building.
The heart sculptures, designed by Bay Area artists, will be on display through Feb. 11, then auctioned off Feb. 12 by the S.F. General Hospital Foundation.
“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 reds and pink displays,” said Jenna Casey, director of communications for the hospital foundation.
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Hearts in San Francisco, launched in 2004, has become one of the city’s most familiar fundraisers, with the sculptures displayed in City Hall, hospital and business lobbies, public thoroughfares and private residences after they are sold.
From left: “Kind Heart” by Natasha Kramskaya, “SF Kiss” by Nala Kun and “Sunsets on Ocean Beach” by Kalani Ware are part of the Hearts in San Francisco exhibition at the Ferry Building through Feb. 11.
Jenna Casey/San Francisco General Hospital Foundation
This year’s Hearts in San Francisco depict landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, the Sutro Tower and the Castro Theatre, as well as sunsets, nature scenes, geometric patterns and abstract images. The foundation has posted images of this year’s sculptures online, where it is taking bids.
Hearts in San Francisco
Public display through Feb. 11. 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Ferry Building, at the foot of Market Street. Auction benefiting San Francisco General Hospital on Feb. 12. https://bit.ly/Hearts2026
Sixteen of the hearts are displayed near the ferry terminus doors at the center of the building, while four are installed near an entrance to the marketplace east of the clock tower. The 21st heart up for auction is displayed at the Conservatory at One Sansome, an event venue.
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“During the busy farmers market days, there is always a steady stream of visitors snapping their own photos of the hearts and scanning to learn more about this year’s collection,” Casey said.
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Other heart sculptures are available for purchase on the foundation’s website, from 16-inch-high tabletop artworks weighing 20 pounds to 5-foot-high pieces weighing 400 pounds. All are attached to a base.
Though many heart sculptures from past fundraisers are in private collections, the foundation has published a map with locations of many public displays. The most famous is Tony Bennett’s “America’s Greatest City by the Bay,” at Powell and Post streets.