The Future of the Ramaytush Ohlone Depicted in New Art on Market Street Poster Series by Artist Marcelo Potosí

SAN FRANCISCO, December 17, 2024 – The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) is excited to unveil the fourth and final installation of the 2024 Art on Market Street Poster Series, featuring a stunning collection of digital illustrations by indigenous Kichwa-Otavalo artist, Marcelo Potosí. 

Titled The Future of the Ramaytush Ohlone, Potosí’s series of six poster designs will be displayed along Market Street between 7th and Steuart streets at 15 SFMTA transit shelters through February 2025. The poster’s designs honor the heritage, values, and aspirations of the Ramaytush Ohlone, the original stewards of the San Francisco Peninsula, while highlighting themes of cultural revitalization, sovereignty, and environmental stewardship. 

“As the final set of posters as part of the 2024 Art on Market Street poster series honoring San Francisco Bay Area Native Peoples, Marcelo Potosí’s artwork beautifully and masterfully intertwines the rich cultural history of the Ramaytush Ohlone with visionary ideals for the future,” said Ralph Remington, Director of Cultural Affairs. “Through his striking poster designs, Potosí honors the deep-rooted legacy of the Ohlone people, while urging us to envision and reimagine a future grounded in respect for the land, its original stewards, and the environment.” 

Each poster features a central figure set against a backdrop depicting meaningful historical and cultural locations in San Francisco, enhanced with native plants and animals from the Bay Area. The designs also include silhouettes inspired by historical paintings of the Ramaytush Ohlone, accompanied by text reflecting their cultural values and aspirations. 

“Through these images, I hope to bring acknowledgement and awareness of the Ramaytush Ohlone to everyone who lives in or visits San Francisco,” said artist Marcelo Potosí. “As an indigenous person, I believe it is essential to honor the land and its ancestral roots while inspiring unity among all communities.” 

Potosí’s posters explore six themes central to the Ramaytush Ohlone’s vision: 

• Revitalizing the Culture: Maintaining traditions, dances, and beliefs is crucial for preserving culture, and revitalizing them serves to affirm that the Ramaytush Ohlone are still present. 
• Sovereignty: The Ramaytush Ohlone are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula, and the recognition of their sovereignty is essential for their growth in all aspects. 
• Taking Care of the Land: Caring for the land we live on is a way to show respect for Mother Earth. Like many Indigenous groups, the Ramaytush Ohlone show their reverence for their ancestral lands. 
• Taking Care of the People: In today’s modern society, caring for one another is essential, offering a way to connect spiritually and grow together as a community. 
• Taking Care of the Animals: Animals are an integral part of Mother Nature and play a vital role in building a healthy, prosperous environment within the ancestral lands of the Ramaytush Ohlone. 
• Thriving as a Community: Working together with diverse groups is key to building a stronger community and sets an example for future generations who will inhabit the lands of the Ramaytush Ohlone. 

The Art on Market Street Poster Series places thought-provoking artwork in high-visibility public spaces, reaching thousands of pedestrians daily and bringing art directly to the community. 

The 2024 poster series theme focused on celebrating the San Francisco Bay Area Native Peoples, and featured works by Jesse Hernandez, Kirti Bassendine, Calixto Robles, and Marcelo Potosí. Potosí’s installation concludes this year’s series with a powerful tribute to the Ramaytush Ohlone’s enduring legacy and a vision for the future. 

The 2025 poster series theme will be “Overlapping Histories: Art on Market Street Poster Series, 1992-the present.”

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About the Artist
Marcelo Potosí is a Kichwa-Otavalo artist originally from Ecuador who has lived in San Francisco for over 31 years. Deeply inspired by his indigenous heritage, his work explores themes of cultural identity, indigenous art, and mythology, alongside contemporary issues such as social justice, climate change, and community unity. Potosi's art aims to honor ancestral roots while fostering awareness and dialogue about the interconnectedness of people, land, and nature. Through his vibrant and thought-provoking creations, Potosi seeks to celebrate indigenous traditions while envisioning a more inclusive and sustainable future.

About the Art on Market Street Poster Series 
The San Francisco Arts Commission has commissioned new artworks from artists on an annual basis since 1992 in partnership with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and Clear Channel. Now in its 31st year, the program has partnered with over 120 artists since its inception, commissioning over $1.2 million worth of art, showcasing a wide breadth of artistic styles, themes and topics centered around San Francisco. Up to four artists are commissioned annually by the Arts Commission to create a series of at least six unique works of art that responds to a theme specific to San Francisco. To learn more, visit sfartscommission.org/artonmarketstreet 

About the San Francisco Arts Commission  
The San Francisco Arts Commission 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. Our programs include: Civic Art Collection, Civic Design Review, Community Investments, Public Art, SFAC Galleries, and Art Vendor Licensing. To learn more, visit sfartscommission.org.