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Giant nude sculpture to leave San Francisco's Embarcadero Plaza after 18 months

Giant nude sculpture to leave San Francisco's Embarcadero Plaza after 18 months

Built World San Francisco, CA local

Marco Cochrane's 'I Am' is off the waterfront, listed at $5 million, and he says three collectors have shown interest

October 19th, 2026: Pavilion designs for Embarcadero Park scheduled for review

Overview

Updated Oct 23

Crews cut the 45-foot nude figure into nine pieces in mid-October and trucked her to Marco Cochrane's Petaluma warehouse. The steel mesh sculpture, renamed 'I Am' from 'R-Evolution,' had stood at the foot of Market Street since April 2025.

Cochrane has listed the piece at $5 million and says three collectors are interested. The plaza's makeover forced the move: the $40 million Embarcadero Park is due to start construction before the end of the year, and a review of three designs for its 40-foot pavilion was set for Oct. 19.

Why it matters

A privately funded sculpture held San Francisco's main plaza for 18 months with little public input—its removal closes a test case for temporary art approval.

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Key Indicators

13,000 lbs
Weight of sculpture
The Chronicle put the metal figure at 13,000 pounds; Wikipedia lists the sculpture at 32,000 pounds (15,000 kg).
$5M
Asking price
List price for 'I Am' after removal, with three collectors said to be interested.

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People Involved

Marco Cochrane
Marco Cochrane
Sculptor, creator of 'R-Evolution'
Sculpture dismantled and stored in his Petaluma warehouse for refurbishing; listed at $5 million
TB
Ted Barrow
Art historian and critic
Leading critic of the installation
 Aimee Friberg
Aimee Friberg
Curator and gallerist
Critic of the project's gender dynamics
TA
Tamara Aparton
Spokesperson, San Francisco Recreation and Parks
Department spokesperson during the installation
 Deja Solis
Deja Solis
Model for 'R-Evolution'
Model who posed for the sculpture
 Sarah Madland
Sarah Madland
General Manager, San Francisco Recreation and Parks
Was general manager when the sculpture came down in October 2026
SR
Shannon Riley
Co-founder and executive producer, Big Art Loop
Organized the farewell celebration for the sculpture

Organizations Involved

San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department
San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department
City department
Owned the plaza and issued the permit; sculpture removed in October 2026

City department that owns Embarcadero Plaza and issued the temporary permit for 'R-Evolution.'
San Francisco Arts Commission
San Francisco Arts Commission
City agency
Approved the installation

City body that approved the installation, placing it on its agenda just 72 hours before the vote.
Sijbrandij Foundation
Sijbrandij Foundation
Nonprofit
Funder of the installation

Nonprofit that funded the sculpture's installation at Embarcadero Plaza.
Building 180
Building 180
For-profit organization
Installation organizer

Women-led for-profit organization that installs large-scale public art; helped organize the installation.
BA
Big Art Loop
Nonprofit
Placed the sculpture at Embarcadero Plaza and held its October farewell

Nonprofit promoter of large-scale public art on a 34-mile pedestrian and bike trail through San Francisco.

Timeline

2015 October 2026

10 events Latest: October 19th, 2026 · 3 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Pavilion designs for Embarcadero Park scheduled for review

    Latest Design review

    Firm HOK was set to present three options for a 40-foot pavilion planned for the park replacing Embarcadero Plaza; no outcome was reported.

  2. Sculpture taken apart and trucked to Petaluma

    Removal

    Crews broke the figure down limb by limb into nine pieces and hauled it to Cochrane's warehouse. Rusty bolts and bird bones in its braided hair showed the toll of 18 months on the waterfront.

  3. Officials announce removal starting next week

    Announcement

    Officials announce 'R-Evolution' will be disassembled and removed to the artist's warehouse starting next week.

  4. Sculpture announced for sale or lease

    Announcement

    Building 180 confirms the sculpture is on temporary loan and available for purchase or lease. Art broker Sotheby's is handling the sale, with the price available 'upon request.'

  5. Farewell celebration at Embarcadero Plaza

    Event

    Big Art Loop hosts a free farewell celebration with live music, performances, a global meditation, and a closing DJ set by Opulent Temple. The event was the public's last chance to see the sculpture in place.

  6. Sculpture listed at $5 million

    Announcement

    Cochrane put 'I Am' on the art market for $5 million and said three collectors had expressed interest, all of whom had seen it on the waterfront.

  7. Arts Commission extends stay to October 2026

    Decision

    The San Francisco Arts Commission votes to extend the sculpture's stay to October 2026, the second extension of the original permit.

  8. Permit extended to March 2026

    Decision

    Recreation and Parks extends the original permit, drawing renewed criticism from opponents.

  9. Sculpture erected at Embarcadero Plaza

    Installation

    The work is installed with a temporary permit, approved by the Arts Commission 72 hours after being placed on its agenda.

  10. R-Evolution debuts at Burning Man

    Debut

    Cochrane first shows the 45-foot sculpture at the Nevada festival.

Scenarios

1

R-Evolution removed on schedule

Likely Resolves by Nov 15, 2026

Discussed by: SFist, SF Standard

The sculpture is disassembled and trucked to Marco Cochrane's warehouse as announced. Embarcadero Plaza returns to its prior state, and the controversy closes without further action.

2

Removal delayed

Unlikely Resolves by Nov 15, 2026

Discussed by: SF Standard

Weather, logistics, or a last-minute legal or procedural challenge delays the removal. The sculpture remains at Embarcadero Plaza past the announced date.

3

Sculpture finds a new public home

Possible Resolves by Mar 1, 2027

Discussed by: SF Standard, artist's statements

After removal, Cochrane or the funders announce a new installation site for 'R-Evolution'—another city, a museum, or a private collection. The work's public life continues elsewhere.

4

Sculpture sold or leased to a new owner

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: SFGate, SF Chronicle

The sculpture is now for sale or lease through Sotheby's. A sale would give the work a new home, possibly in another city or a private collection, and end the public controversy.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

March 2017

Fearless Girl (2017)

Artist Kristen Visbal's bronze statue of a defiant girl was installed facing the Charging Bull on Wall Street for International Women's Day. It was meant to stay one week but drew such support that New York City extended its permit, and it remained for over a year before moving.

Then

The statue became a tourist attraction and sparked debate about public art, corporate sponsorship, and the message of female empowerment.

Now

It set a precedent for temporary installations becoming permanent through public demand and raised questions about who approves public art.

Why this matters now

Like 'R-Evolution,' it was a privately funded temporary installation that sparked controversy over process and meaning—but unlike the San Francisco sculpture, it stayed.

June-July 1995

Wrapped Reichstag (1995)

Artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped the German Reichstag building in 100,000 square meters of silver fabric for two weeks. It was the culmination of 24 years of planning and was always intended to be temporary.

Then

Millions visited during the two-week display, and the Reichstag was later renovated to house the German parliament.

Now

It became a landmark example of temporary public art, showing that a work's impermanence is part of its meaning.

Why this matters now

R-Evolution's removal follows the same logic—temporary public art is defined by its limited lifespan, even when controversial.

Sources

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SFist SF Standard San Francisco Chronicle SFGate SF Station Downtown SF SF Gazetteer We Are San Francisco Hoodline SFGuide FunCheap NBC Bay Area Wikipedia San Francisco Chronicle SFist