As part of the 2026 Hearts in San Francisco public art project, the Foundation selected 21 artists to share their take on our city’s most iconic blank canvas. Among the new cohort of talented painters and sculptors were the young students at ARTifact.
A local studio based in San Francisco, ARTifact is an award-winning program that is known for blurring the line between art class and art as lived storytelling. ARTifact brings together children, families, and communities through hands-on projects that are as thoughtful as they are innovative.
"Being given the opportunity to paint a Heart that helps heal our community proves there's no telling what kind of magic—and giving—the next generation will come to know is possible." Lauren Sharp, Founder and Creative Director of ARTifact
Ranging from ages 5 to 13, students brainstormed, drafted, and painted a table top Heart, aptly named “Flower Child,” all on their own. The creation of the Heart has been deeply meaningful for the students. This process has reinforced their sense of civic engagement and shown them that their voices are still heard despite their young age.
With bubbling excitement for creation and a newfound commitment to bettering the community in which they live, the students at ARTifact are ready to change the world, one brushstroke at a time.
