Nate Mahoney Studio

Tag: Public art

  • Art Retreat

    Art Retreat

    This is so much more than an art tour.
    It’s a focused art experience with a small group of collectors and artists, curated personally by Nate Mahoney, with access most people never get without the right introduction.

    Starting with Los Angeles. 
    Private tours of the new LACMA galleries and the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Curated gallery visits through the best contemporary art spaces in the city. Intimate studio visits with Los Angeles based artists. Surprise moments woven throughout that are personal, unexpected, and genuinely memorable. This is the part I do not put in writing. You will understand when it happens.

    Art retreats in the top international art capitals of the world.

    • Los Angeles
    • Paris
    • New York
    • London
    • Rome
    • Berlin
    • Madrid
    • Chicago
    • Santa Fe
    • Mexico City
    • Tokyo
    • More locations in the planning…

    Intimate and personal.
    The group is eight people maximum. The experience is designed to change how you see art and the world you bring it into.

    Everything is included.
    Private tours of two major art institutions. Curated private gallery visits through the best contemporary art spaces. Intimate studio visits with local artists. Flights from San Francisco, boutique hotel, all meals, all ground transportation. And surprise moments woven throughout that you will still be talking about years from now.

    If you are building a collection,
    deepening your relationship with contemporary art, or simply ready for an experience that feels genuinely different from anything you have done before, this is for you.

    Eight spots. Most already spoken for. Invitation only.

    To reserve your spot or learn more contact Nate directly at nate@natemahoney.com, text (415)238-7743, or schedule a call at this link.

    $750 deposit.

    Details
    Experience art with a small intimate group of collectors and artists curated personally by Nate Mahoney. Every detail is handled before you arrive so the only thing you have to do is show up and experience art.

    Travel
    Round trip flights from San Francisco to the destination city included. Private ground transportation throughout the entire retreat. No rideshares, no logistics, no thinking. You are picked up and dropped off at every door.

    Hotel
    Boutique hotel accommodation at the center of art and culture. Your room is yours. Rest when you need to. The itinerary breathes.

    Meals
    Every meal is curated and included. Breakfast at the hotel, lunches at neighborhood spots that feel like discoveries, dinners at restaurants selected for atmosphere, quality, and the kind of conversation they inspire. Dietary needs and preferences accommodated personally in advance.

    Personalization
    Before each retreat Nate connects personally with every guest to understand what you are curious about, what you are building, and what would make this experience meaningful specifically for you. The itinerary is designed around the group and adjusted for each person in it.

    Your Wellbeing
    Your wellness is a priority, fitness routines including yoga and meditation will be part of the itenary. Your comfort and safety are taken care of before you even think to ask. Pre-arranged access to healthcare services and counseling support is in place for the duration of the retreat should anything unforeseen arise. It is handled quietly and professionally in advance so it is never a concern and never a conversation you need to have. You are here to experience something beautiful. Everything else is already taken care of.

    Eight guests maximum. Invitation only.

    To reserve your spot or learn more contact Nate directly at nate@natemahoney.com, text (415)238-7743, or schedule a call at this link.

    $750 deposit

  • Open call for art. Urban Romance: A Love Letter to city life.

    Open call for art. Urban Romance: A Love Letter to city life.

    CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

    Urban Romance: A Love Letter to city life

    Opening February 5, 2026

    Urban Romance is a public love letter to city living told through art, music, and collective expression.

    Set inside the underground Union Square Muni transit station, this show explores what it means to love in cities, with them and through them.

    We’re seeking original visual work that captures the emotional landscape of city life:

    – Where do you find softness in the noise?


    – Where do you see beauty hiding in plain sight?


    – What about the city makes you swoon?

    • Original artwork ready for hanging (any 2D medium, not heavy, ideally smaller than 16×20″)
    • A short artist bio or statement (2–4 sentences)
    • A short statement about how your entry relates to the group show theme. (1 paragraph)
    • A high-res digital file (300ppi) of your piece to be included in a postcard series for sale in the kiosks.

    Apply before midnight on January 15, 2026.

    To apply, fill out this form.


    Pop Up Gallery Opening
    February 5, 2026, 5-9PM at the kiosks inside the Union Square MUNI station.

    Curated by Ariana Wolf
    Hosted by Nate Mahoney, The Urbanist.
    In collaboration with Flight Design Co.

  • Serendipity. The art of intuition and iteration.

    Serendipity. The art of intuition and iteration.

    Serendipity in the City: The Spark Behind My Curated Retail project.

    In starting The Urbanist, I was motivated by solid intuition, and the city itself conspired to give me a nudge. My curated retail pop-up venture, focused on helping people slow down and truly appreciate San Francisco, was born out of moments of pure serendipity.

    Serendipity and the power of community recently played a role. I joined The Kindredly, a community of entrepreneurs co-organized by good friends, Ariana and Luisa. At their recent event hosted by Mae, I met Tarita who introduced me to Cathy, the host of walking tours in the Castro. Kathy invited me to take her Cruising the Castro walking tour on the Saturday after black Friday.

    Cathy telling the story of the AIDS quilt.

    On Cathy’s Cruising the Castro walking tour, I met Heiko and Nicole visiting from southern Germany, currently, on a sabbatical year to explore the world. We admired the activist history of the neighborhood together, and then went our separate ways. Or so I thought.

    Later that very day, I was stationed at my pop-up kiosk at the Union Square Muni station, my kiosk business was barely a day old, when I looked up to see Heiko and Nicole. We laughed at the coincidence, and we all had the pink rose crystals from the Pink Triangle Park, which commemorates LGBTQ+ history in such a moving way. We even snapped a photo to send to Cathy, connecting the threads of our serendipitous meetings.

    We all had the crystals from our Castro walking tour that morning. Yana’s design for the SF walking map.

    As if the universe wasn’t done weaving the story, the couple booked my Downtown rooftop adventure tour for Monday morning. That tour turned into another magical moment, Yana, the brilliant designer behind the San Francisco walking map, that we just finished printing at Colpa Press by Luca in the Mission, joined us just before our meeting to discuss plans for our New York City map design. I found myself guiding new friends from across the globe through hidden rooftops while collaborating with a local creative talent I deeply admire. It just so happened that the couple’s next stop was to visit New York!

    That’s the heart of why I started this retail art project, The Urbanist: to create opportunities for spontaneous connection, discovery, and appreciation of the city. San Francisco is full of moments like this, glimpses of beauty and community, if we simply slow down to notice.

    If my first week in business at the kiosk was any sign, serendipity is not just a theme for my business, it’s at the core of my artist lifestyle, and the ethos for the experiences I hope to share with every curious person who engages in community with me.

    Yana, Heiko, and Nicole on my POPOS walking tour.

  • Kiosk in the Union Square Muni Station.

    Kiosk in the Union Square Muni Station.

    There’s something magical about Thanksgiving morning in the city. It’s quiet with many having traveled to the suburbs for turkey prep.

    However, this year instead of cooking, I had a last minute morning meeting with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, (SFMTA, better known as the iconic worm logo, MUNI) to finally get kiosk keys for the Union Square Muni Station.

    Autobus Worm, (2025) acrylic on canvas, 10” x 8” x 1” Nate Mahoney.

    This morning I was clutching a fresh set of keys that jingled like music for the holiday season!

    Today is about food, friends, and family for sure, but it’s a complex holiday that carries both joy and reflection. Embracing both sides of Thanksgiving allows us to celebrate family and food while honoring the truths of the past.

    This year was very special for me, it was about getting the keys to be ready for opening day, this Black Friday for theurbanist.com kiosk!

    I had been working behind the scenes with the city on permitting and with collaborators for months. Designing goods and services to help everyone enjoy the city like a local. We crafted our best welcoming urban conversation starters with welcome kits, walking maps, and our walking tours.

    Travelers and shoppers are about to rush through the station this Friday. I am ready to join the Black Friday buzz. There’s a unique thrill in opening the kiosk for business for the first time.

    I’m excited to be rolling up the shutters for the first time this Friday. The metallic click, click, click will feel like unlocking a tiny stage where personal, people-focused community building can happen.

    By the time the post-turkey crowds head to downtown for Black Friday, I’ll be right in the heart of it all. Union Square is already shimmering with lights, an ice skating rink, and the energy is contagious.

    Whether you’re a commuter, a holiday shopper, or just passing through, swing by our new kiosk. We’ve got Urbanist flair to share. You might even find a city-themed surprise or two in our just released 2026 Walking map design!

    2026 San Francisco Walking Map

    Here’s to starting the season by rolling up the gates at our new kiosk, with a smile, and to bring a whole lot of excitement for what’s ahead.

    Happy Thanksgiving and see you in person at the Kiosk!

    220 Geary Street San Francisco CA 94102. The kiosk is inside the Union Square Muni station.

    Land Acknowledgment. We acknowledge that this project takes place on the ancestral lands of Native Peoples. We acknowledge this not only in thanks to the Indigenous communities who have held a relationship with this land and stewarded it for generations, but also in recognition of the historical challenges. Additionally, we make this acknowledgement as a point of reflection for us all as we address these wrongs in an effort to heal our relationship with Native Peoples.

    Open 11 am to 6 pm for Black Friday, 2025.

    Open 24/7 at theurbanist.com

  • CCA Art Fair.

    CCA Art Fair.

    Participating in the California College of Arts, CCA art fair was an exciting opportunity to promote my small business, theurbanist.com Setting up my table with unique designs and pieces for sale was an engaging experience, allowing me to connect with art, craft, and design enthusiasts.

    My wallet collaboration with Manikgrl, crafted with maps of San Francisco was a top seller!

    The fair provided a vibrant location to showcase my work, engage with the community, and share the story behind my small business theurbanist.com. It was a rewarding day filled with conversations, sales, and valuable connections that will undoubtedly benefit my business for the future.

    Photo by Zefania

    I also received helpful feedback from customers who completed my survey. Please feel free to fill out the survey at this link. If you’re a small business owner, I highly recommend participating in local art fairs to expand your reach and engage with community in person.

    theurbanist.com

    All of my links are here. https://linktr.ee/natemahoney

    Follow along on Instagram for my latest art and city adventures! @natemahoney @theurbanistsf

    Here’s the link to sign up for my email newsletter.

  • Art gallery tours.

    Art gallery tours.

    Just launched on Airbnb!

    I’m hosting art gallery tours in downtown San Francisco to share the latest in contemporary art with you.

    Here’s the link. Please share it with your friends and family! I’m excited to share the latest in contemporary art with you. See you in person on a tour soon.

    http://airbnb.com/x/sf-art-galleries

  • Fall Artists’ Dinner.

    Fall Artists’ Dinner.

    We had such a fantastic artists’ dinner at Ruth’s Table!

    It was a memorable evening at Ruth’s Table for our fall Artists’ Dinner bringing together San Francisco’s vibrant artist community. Grateful for the creativity, connection, and support that filled the room. 🌟🎨 #ArtistsSupportingArtists #SanFranciscoArt #RuthsTable

  • AI Prototyping.

    AI Prototyping.

    Thanks to Diane and Kate for leading a fun AI playground workshop.

    I’m using AI tools to create new products and services.

    For my art practice:

    1. AI Coffee: Scan a QR code sticker to order your coffee

    For my small business, The Urbanist.

    1. The Urbanist: Text Advice for how to use public transportation, food recommendations, and for city tips.
    2. The Urbanist. Safe Streets: Text message supportive advice for confidently navigating the city.

    Tool or Tools utilized: Figma Make, Twillio, Terminal, Python, Flask, Claude, Chat GPT. 

    What worked well: Figma make went very well for generating a prototype. Setting up an account and verifying phone numbers on Twillio was easy. 

    What didn’t: Getting python running on terminal was tricky, I’m new to coding so learning a lot asking Chat GPT how to get it to work 

    Next steps: Prototyping and coding this so it actually works with a phone number ported to Twillio. 

    Links: 

  • Retail inspiration.

    Retail inspiration.

    Walking into a retail store in person is still an inspirational experience for me.

    There you are, innocently looking for dish soap, and suddenly you’re holding a panini press you didn’t know you needed, imagining all the grilled cheese glory your future holds.

    IRL Retail has this magical way of telling you stories about the life you could lead, usually one with fresher breath, cooler sneakers, and at least three throw pillows more than you currently own.

    The beauty of it is that retail isn’t pretending to be high art. It’s basically a friendly neighbor who says, “Hey, want to see something cool?” and then hands you a vacuum that can also talk to your phone.

    It’s not sophisticated, but it is sneaky. One minute, you’re thinking about new running shoes; the next, you’re signing up for a half marathon you didn’t even know existed.

    What makes retail inspiring is its casual belief in your potential. Every aisle whispers tiny pep talks: “With this blender, you will love kale smoothies!” or “These pens will finally make you that organized person you always wanted to be.”

    It’s a low-stakes, high-impact theater of possibility. Sure, you might leave with a glow-in-the-dark dog leash and no dog, but isn’t that the kind of optimism life needs?

  • The Urbanist.

    The Urbanist.

    Why did I create an urban-focused retail art project?

    The Urbanist is a retail art project designed to help people thrive in the city at the intersection of local community, urban inspiration, art, and design. 

    My passion to support people in the city is based on my own experience. I looked for a place to call home after leaving the suburbs. I moved to the city looking for creative inspiration and queer safe space. But, it was a challenge to adapt without knowing how to find belonging and the high cost of living had me operating in survival mode. 

    Now, the city is my home, I want to put all of my urban problem solving skills to good use, helping others[a] here feel welcome by creating goods, services, and community building. This is how I want to show up as an artist[b] in the city and how I want to interact with the world. 

    When I started this artist retail project, I focused on things people needed. I interviewed people and curated a welcome kit through partnerships with other small businesses. The first Welcome to San Francisco Kits were sold to brides to give to their out of town wedding guests in 2014. These kits now exist as a resource for all kinds of visitors, whether visiting or relocating, their contents offer locally made products that help welcome you to the city that has so much to offer.

    This artist run retail project has evolved from just offering welcome kits to offering services that build community[c]. It’s a potential future goal to help people find affordable[d] housing in the city. 

    I celebrate the serendipity that occurs when people meet in cities and I want to use humor and inject joy into my process, making it healthy, fun, and the end result both lively, human, and engaging. I want this small artist business to be able to thrive while maintaining its unique voice in the fast-paced urban environment.

    —The Urbanist

    Welcoming essentials for urban explorers. Taking the sense of secrecy out of urban exploration while leaving all the adventure, The Urbanist aims to offer mindful, sustainable, and essential services to the community, fostering a sense of accessibility and familiarity for visitors, tourists, and relocating urban explorers.