Creating Waves: San Francisco Celebrates Unveiling of New Permanent Public Artwork Mareas at Pier 27 Cruise Terminal Plaza

SAN FRANCISCO, January 16, 2026 – The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC), in partnership with the Port of San Francisco, are thrilled to announce the completed installation of Mareas, a new permanent public artwork by artist Ana Teresa Fernández, at the James R. Herman Cruise Terminal Plaza at Pier 27.  

The artwork, located along the Embarcadero between Chestnut and Lombard streets, serves as a welcoming gateway to the plaza and the city beyond and is the first permanent archway to be installed along San Francisco’s iconic waterfront. 

Mareas, Spanish for “tides,” captures and enhances the daily movement of light and color across the San Francisco Bay, casting a wave of blue across the cruise terminal plaza. The sculpture’s flowing form and vibrant palette evoke the motion of water while offering a striking contrast to the surrounding vertical skyline. 

“The tides of how people view public art are changing. Mareas is a vibrant example of how thoughtful and site-specific permanent public art can help transform our shared public and open spaces, welcoming residents and visitors alike to all corners of our beautiful city,” said Ralph Remington, Director of Cultural Affairs. “The Arts Commission is honored to work with artist Ana Teresa Fernández to bring her first permanent public art commission with the City to life that will now be part of San Francisco’s Civic Art Collection.”

The artwork is permanently sited at the pedestrian entrance to the plaza, just south of the historic Beltline Building. This location was identified collaboratively by the Port of San Francisco, the San Francisco Arts Commission, and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission as an ideal site for a public artwork that welcomes visitors arriving by foot, public transit, or private vehicle. 

"San Francisco's iconic Embarcadero will shine a bit brighter today with the installation of Mareas, a stunning new art installation,” shared District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter. “This art invites us to bask in the beauty of our city and reflect on the nature that surrounds us. I congratulate artist Ana Teresa Fernández' and thank her for bringing her art to our city's public shoreline." 

Fabricated using steel and polycarbonate resin, the artwork measures approximately 13 feet, 3¾ inches tall by 26 feet, 10 inches wide by 6 feet, 11 inches deep. Fabrication was completed by One Hat One Hand, with materials provided by 3Form Architectural Resin and Glass. 

The James R. Herman Cruise Terminal at Pier 27 was completed in 2014 and serves as a year-round cruise terminal as well as an indoor and outdoor event venue on non-cruise days. Located on the northern waterfront, the terminal is a key public access point along the Embarcadero and an important civic destination for residents and visitors. 

“We’re thrilled to add Mareas to the growing collection of permanent public art pieces along the waterfront,” said Michael Martin, Acting Executive Director of the Port of San Francisco. “Its vibrant use of color and light brings to mind the dynamic waves and sky that are the backdrop to the James R. Herman Cruise Terminal. Like the Port’s other pieces of public art, Mareas will enhance people’s experience on our beautiful Bay waterfront, creating a sense of place, sparking imagination, and inviting moments of discovery and surprise.”  

Ana Teresa Fernández’s practice explores themes of 21st-century feminism, post-colonial landscapes, and the role of empathy in reshaping how people experience their environments. With Mareas, the artist creates an invitation to reflect, connect, and see the waterfront in new ways.  

“Mareas is inspired by the ocean's underwater visual realm. The patterns and rhythms which happen in refractions; light traveling through water, seen from beneath the surface is translated unto the patterns of the archway. Shifting the audience's experience of the ocean to be from within the water,” said artist Ana Teresa Fernández. “I hope the work invites moments of reflection, connection, and play amidst the cascading blues and bridges proximity to the ocean for everyone who passes through the plaza.”   

The project was managed by the San Francisco Arts Commission in collaboration with the Port of San Francisco. Through Mareas, the San Francisco Arts Commission and the Port of San Francisco continue their shared commitment to integrating contemporary public art into the city’s waterfront, enhancing public space while creating meaningful points of connection between art, environment, and community. 

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About the San Francisco Arts Commission 
The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) is the City agency that champions the arts as essential to daily life by investing in a vibrant arts community, enlivening the urban environment, and shaping innovative cultural policy. SFAC programs include the Civic Art Collection, Civic Design Review, Community Investments, Public Art, SFAC Galleries, and Art Vendor Licensing. Learn more at sfartscommission.org. 

About the Port of San Francisco 
The Port of San Francisco manages 7.5 miles of waterfront that is home to popular destinations and attractions, historic districts, small businesses and robust maritime opportunities. The Port works to advance environmentally and financially sustainable maritime, recreational, and economic opportunities for the City, Bay Area, and California.