Elliott C Nathan: The San Francisco-based Muralist Behind TBI’s New Cover Art

One of SF’s most prolific street artists has used the pandemic to hone his craft in entirely new ways

A painting from Nathan’s “Rainbow San Francisco” collection that’s serving as our new cover art — a piece that perfectly illustrates the left-of-center, unapologetically queer, all-inclusive SF we at TBI are keen on supporting for years to come. Photo: Courtesy of Elliott C Nathan

To solely describe Elliott C Nathan as a muralist doesn’t do his catalog justice. Yes, Nathan’s painted now-iconic outdoor art pieces across a myriad of local landmarks — like the “Loads of Love” mural outside Powerhouse and his sprawling kaleidoscope of colors and characters along the Dore Street-facing wall at 1345 Howard Street — but his creativity knows many media.

Nathan’s acrylic jellyfish are as adorable as they are mesmeric. His use of reclaimed wood to build multidimensional compositions is applaudable. How he wields both utilitarianism and flamboyancy to create functional theatre props is a talent few possess (at such scale).

Perhaps no one in the city knows their way around a can of spray paint better than Nathan, himself.

‘Our city is resilient, and I’m excited to be part of the next wave of creative life here.’

And the thirty-something artist, too, is also the painter behind the piece that currently covers the publication’s homepage, as well as our social media channels.