Artist Has Painted Nuclear Colonialism Mural

A Diné artist is mapping the global impact of atomic testing on a San Francisco wall.

Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Nuclear

Bold vector editorial illustration of a stylized desert mural on a city wall, depicting a plant silhouette against a sun-burst. — San Francisco artist Victoria Canby is creating a new mural in Clarion Alley that maps the global history and legacy of nuclear colonialism. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Bay Area artist Victoria Canby has begun work on a mural in Clarion Alley detailing the history of nuclear colonialism. The project features a genie before an exploding bomb while marking 35 global sites affected by atomic power.

Why it matters

The mural aims to educate the public on the long-term reach and impacts of nuclear colonialism across the world. It draws from extensive research to connect local communities to the global legacy of atomic testing.

The muralist spent one year researching the history of atomic power before creating the piece. The design maps 35 global sites harmed by nuclear facilities, testing, and bombs.

The players

Victoria Canby

A Diné artist based in the Bay Area who researches the intersections of history and environmental impact.

Kyoko Sato

An associate director at Stanford University who collaborates on research regarding the history of atomic power.

The details

Artist Victoria Canby collaborated with Stanford University associate director Kyoko Sato to develop the imagery based on a time map of impacted communities. The art depicts a genie in front of an exploding atomic bomb and explicitly highlights areas including Japan, Nevada, and the Congo.

The first nuclear bomb was detonated in 1945.
Canby began the mural project in Clarion Alley in 2023.
The artist plans to complete the mural in the next few months.

The Big Picture

The mural maps the geographical consequences that follow the precedent set by the 1945 detonation of the first nuclear bomb. This project shifts the narrative from technical history to the human and environmental costs of nuclear development.

Residents and visitors in the Clarion Alley area can view the evolving mural as it documents nuclear impacts on global regions. The artwork serves as a visual educational tool to help the public visualize the reach of atomic testing.

The takeaway

The project demonstrates how public art can bridge the gap between historical research and community awareness regarding nuclear policies. Readers can implement this approach by researching the historical environmental impacts of major industrial events in their own regions.