SAN FRANCISCO, September 13, 2025 – The San Francisco Arts Commission is pleased to announce the unveiling of Canopy of Sky, a new permanent public artwork by internationally renowned environmental artist Ned Kahn, following the opening of Treasure Island’s new Cityside Park.  

The 28-foot 9¾-inch-wide sculpture is composed of approximately 7,000 translucent polycarbonate discs that shimmer and rustle in the wind, transforming the island’s signature fog, wind, and ocean air into a kinetic sensory experience. 

Fabricated from stainless steel, aluminum, and polycarbonate, the commission reflects Kahn’s mastery of durable, weather-resistant materials designed to endure the island’s maritime conditions while responding dynamically to the surrounding environment. 

Suspended 15 feet above ground on a stainless-steel ring supported by three curved aluminum poles, Canopy of Sky draws inspiration from the ever-shifting coastal weather that defines Treasure Island’s environment. Echoing the movement of leaves and the subtle sounds of the natural world, the artwork makes tangible the invisible forces of the atmosphere. 

“Public art is about creating an experience that engage the senses, spark curiosity, and connects people to the environment where that artwork is sited,” said Ralph Remington, Director of Cultural Affairs. “Ned Kahn’s Canopy of Sky embodies all of these qualities. It transforms wind and fog, elements so intrinsic to San Francisco, into a mesmerizing experience that will inspire visitors for generations to come. We are thrilled to see this sculpture join other monumental works of public art on the island.”  

The installation marks the second permanent commission of the Treasure Island Art Program, following the June 2023 completion of Hiroshi Sugimoto’s Point of Infinity [2] on Yerba Buena Island.  

"We are implementing a vision that incorporates art into Treasure Island's 300 acres of new public parks and open space, continuing the artistic legacy that is so much a part of its history. Cityside Park, with its spectacular views of San Francisco's skyline and Golden Gate Bridge, provides the perfect setting for Ned Kahn's 'Canopy of Sky' – a dynamic sculpture that uses wind to create magical motion and capture light,” said Fei Tsen, President of the Treasure Island Development Authority Board of Directors. “This artwork celebrates the natural forces that define Treasure Island, allowing visitors to experience the beauty of our wind and fog in an entirely new way. Our intention is to create experiences that marry art with nature as part of our overall vision of creating public art throughout Treasure Island." 

Rooted in the Treasure Island Art Master Plan [3], the public art program calls for imaginative, forward-thinking contemporary artworks that shape the island’s evolving identity. 

“The confluence of science and art has fascinated me throughout my career,” said artist Ned Kahn. “For the last twenty years, I have developed a body of work inspired by atmospheric physics, geology, astronomy and fluid motion. I strive to create artworks that enable viewers to observe and interact with natural processes. I am less interested in creating an alternative reality than I am in capturing, through my art, the mysteriousness of the world around us.” 

Cityside Park, located on the island’s western waterfront, offers panoramic views of downtown San Francisco, the Bay Bridge, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Designed as a 24-acre series of outdoor “rooms” shaped by native landscaping and open spaces, the park provides a dynamic setting for community gatherings, recreation, and cultural programming. The Canopy of Sky site, a gently sloped lawn near the waterfront promenade, was chosen to maximize visibility and encourage interaction with the artwork. 

The Treasure Island Art Program is implemented in partnership with the Treasure Island Development Authority (TIDA), the Treasure Island Community Development, and the Treasure Island Arts Steering Committee. 

Over the next two decades, the program will introduce a range of permanent and temporary public artworks across the island, reinforcing Treasure Island’s role as a vibrant nexus of arts, culture, and community life. 

The artwork project budget for Canopy of Sky was approximately $450,000, which was inclusive of artist fees, design, fabrication, transportation, and installation. The total estimated weight of the sculpture is approximately 1,340 pounds. Funding was generated by the 1%-for-Art in Private Development requirement.  

Image: View of Bay Bridge and Canopy of Sky by Ned Kahn at Cityside Park on Treasure Island. Photo by Ethan Kaplan Photography.

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About the Artist 
Ned Kahn is an environmental artist and sculptor whose work mimics the usually invisible forces of nature and makes it visible to audiences. His main interests include fluid dynamics, optics, acoustics, and other physical phenomena. Kahn worked as an apprentice to Frank Oppenheimer, the founder of the Exploratorium, during the 1980s and designed many timeless exhibits for the institution. He has gone on to design exhibits for museums such as the Museum of Natural History in New York, Museum of Natural History in London, England, the Pasadena Museum of California Art, and others. He has also completed numerous public commissions including works for the Skirball Museum and Cultural Center in Los Angeles, CA and Yahoo Headquarters in Sunnyvale, CA. Kahn is a recipient of the MacArthur Foundation's genius grant. 

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 Treasure Island Development Authority 
The Treasure Island Development Authority (TIDA) is the public entity that is overseeing the implementation of the Master Plan for the redevelopment of Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island. As a part of the master plan, Treasure Island and neighboring Yerba Buena Island are being transformed into a new, environmentally sustainable, 21st-century San Francisco neighborhood featuring 8,000 new homes – including approximately 2,200 permanently affordable homes – and new restaurants and shops. Located in the middle of San Francisco Bay and featuring 300 acres of parks, trails and open space, public art installations, and exciting events, this visionary redevelopment will be a regional recreational destination as well as a reimagined neighborhood. More information is available at sf.gov/TIDA. 

About Treasure Island Community Development 
Treasure Island Community Development (TICD) is the master developer for Treasure Island — a partnership of Wilson Meany, Stockbridge Capital Group, and Lennar Corp. Learn more about Treasure Island at TISF.com and Yerba Buena Island at YerbaBuenaIslandSF.com.