Back to the Picture

Back to the Picture Back To the Picture Art & Framing in San Francisco California on 934 Valencia Street since 1985. You name it we’ll frame it any quantity always quality.

Back to the Picture has offered fine custom framing to collectors, artists, and corporate clients since 1985. Since its founding, it has featured local and Latin American artists in its gallery space. Fine custom framing, fine and decorative art, mirrors, readymade frames, and clear-coat-mounting make Back to the Picture the perfect choice for dressing your walls. Street parking is metered until 6

:00 pm Monday through Saturday. Easy parking is available in the Mission Bartlett Garage, on 21st Street, between Valencia and Mission Streets. We're walking distance from either 16th or 24th Street BART stations, so are easy to visit from the four corners of the Bay Area. Come in today!

Today, we pause to remember.This framed San Francisco Chronicle front page from September 11, 2001 captures one of the m...
09/11/2026

Today, we pause to remember.

This framed San Francisco Chronicle front page from September 11, 2001 captures one of the most difficult days in American history as it was reported in real time. The photographs, headlines, and details preserved on this page are more than newspaper history. They are a snapshot of where we were, what we saw, and what changed that day.

We’re sharing it today with respect for the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the first responders and countless others who showed extraordinary courage.

September 11, 2001. Never forgotten.

🚇 Before & After: From There to HereA little piece of San Francisco transportation history, framed with a little BART at...
09/04/2026

🚇 Before & After: From There to Here

A little piece of San Francisco transportation history, framed with a little BART attitude.

This vintage poster, From There to Here: 1850–1970, traces the evolution of getting around San Francisco, from horse-drawn transit and cable cars to buses, streetcars, and finally the BART system. It’s basically 120 years of San Francisco figuring out how to get from Point A to Point B.

For the framing, we went with a BART-blue frame that’s every bit as loud as the transit system itself. The bold blue gives the vintage poster a serious pop while tying directly into the subject matter. Sometimes a piece doesn’t need subtlety. It needs to arrive with the doors opening and the familiar “beep-beep” of BART. 🚇💙

Before → After. Another San Francisco classic ready for the ride.

🎸 DYLAN & THE DEADA little piece of rock ’n’ roll history, now properly framed.This photograph by legendary San Francisc...
08/25/2026

🎸 DYLAN & THE DEAD

A little piece of rock ’n’ roll history, now properly framed.

This photograph by legendary San Francisco photographer Herb Greene captures Bob Dylan with the Grateful Dead in 1987, bringing together two of the most influential forces in American music. Greene had a remarkable ability to photograph musicians not just as performers, but as people, and this relaxed portrait captures that perfectly.

For the framing, we wanted to complement the photograph’s vintage, sepia-toned character rather than overpower it. We paired it with a warm walnut wood frame and a generous cream mat, giving the image room to breathe while keeping that classic 1980s music-photography feel.

A legendary photograph deserves a frame with a little history of its own. 🎶🖼️

Come see it in the gallery at Back to the Picture.

08/08/2026

Meet local San Francisco artist Tisha Kenny — a painter trained in classical Chinese watercolor whose work brings the natural world to life with extraordinary luminosity and grace. 🌸

Tisha’s pieces move between traditions effortlessly—loose, expressive California botanicals and the disciplined brushwork of classical Chinese ink painting—always with that signature quality of light that feels like color dissolving into water. Her subjects—poppies, wisteria, irises, cherry blossoms, birds of paradise—feel both intimately observed and quietly transcendent.

You can find her beautiful linen art prints and greeting cards right here at Back to the Picture, all printed and produced by Tisha herself. And if you want to experience her original work in person, don’t miss her pieces on display at SF CityArtGallery for their August exhibit. A perfect summer evening to go support a truly gifted local artist.

Come see us for the cards and prints, and head to City Art for the originals. 🎨

Some pieces are valuable because of the artist. Others are priceless because of the person who made them.This handcrafte...
08/06/2026

Some pieces are valuable because of the artist. Others are priceless because of the person who made them.

This handcrafted paper artwork was created by our customer’s mother, making it a future family heirloom with a story that deserves to be preserved for generations. Every texture, deckled edge, and layer carries a piece of family history, so our goal wasn’t to overpower it. It was to let it breathe and remain the center of attention.

To showcase the handmade papers, we used art lifts instead of a traditional float mount, creating the illusion that each piece gently hovers above the backing while providing full support. The artwork was completed with a warm petite walnut frame that complements the natural fibers beautifully, and because it will be hanging above a bed, we chose Conservation Clear Acrylic instead of glass. It offers 99.9% UV protection, is lightweight, and eliminates the risk of broken glass, making it the safest and most archival choice for a cherished family piece.

Sometimes the most meaningful art isn’t found in a museum. It’s made at the family table. ❤️

This striking piece by artist Leslie Lowinger draws you into a world of layered figures, movement, memory, and human con...
07/31/2026

This striking piece by artist Leslie Lowinger draws you into a world of layered figures, movement, memory, and human connection. The elongated composition feels almost like a visual timeline, with figures appearing and disappearing across the surface. There’s a beautiful tension between the delicate linework and the washes of earthy green, orange, and black. The result is raw, expressive, and completely captivating.

This piece came to us through the incredible creative community at Hunters Point Shipyard Artists , one of San Francisco’s most unique artist communities. 🎨🌉

For the framing, we wanted to give the artwork room to breathe. We went with a tall, clean silver frame and a generous white mat, creating a quiet presentation that lets the artwork’s intricate lines and organic edges take center stage. The proportions also emphasize the piece’s vertical movement, making the eye travel from the smallest figures at the top all the way down through the composition.

Art that makes you look twice. Framing that makes you look closer.

🏈 GOAT status never goes out of style. Joe Montana didn’t just win four Super Bowls, he defined an era of football. Clu...
07/26/2026

🏈 GOAT status never goes out of style.

Joe Montana didn’t just win four Super Bowls, he defined an era of football. Clutch when it mattered most, cool under pressure, and forever a San Francisco legend. If you’re a 49ers fan, #16 is more than a number. It’s history.

For this signed jersey, we built a clean, bold display worthy of “Joe Cool.” A deep shadowbox keeps the jersey perfectly presented, while the custom red mat with a gold accent picks up the iconic 49ers colors without stealing the spotlight. Finished with protective glazing, it’s built to be admired for years to come.

This framed, signed Joe Montana jersey is available for purchase at Back to the Picture in San Francisco. Stop by the gallery or give us a call at (415) 826-2321 for more information.

mountary

From the streets of Los Angeles to the gallery wall, this piece by legendary graffiti artist SABER (A Work In Progress.)...
07/24/2026

From the streets of Los Angeles to the gallery wall, this piece by legendary graffiti artist SABER (A Work In Progress.) brings that raw West Coast energy straight into the frame. 🧨🌆

A moody LA cityscape lit up in deep blues, fiery reds, and electric night glow, layered with SABER’s unmistakable handstyle. The piece has that perfect balance of burner energy and fine-art precision, with the tags and gestural marks adding another layer to the scene.

We kept the framing clean and let the artwork do the heavy lifting: a sleek black frame with a deep black mat and the artwork floating inside, giving the deckled paper edges room to breathe. Finished with glazing to protect the piece while keeping the focus on the art.

From the wall to the frame, this one is straight 🔥.

There are pieces that tell a story, and then there are pieces that invite you into an entire world.This original hand dr...
07/20/2026

There are pieces that tell a story, and then there are pieces that invite you into an entire world.

This original hand drawing by Nicholas Caluori feels like a page torn from an ancient legend. A mysterious armed hare guardian stands beside a graceful figure, balancing strength and vulnerability in a scene that feels equal parts Celtic folklore, dark fantasy, and medieval myth.

To echo that atmosphere, we chose a richly carved Celtic-inspired frame with bold geometric knotwork that looks like it belongs in the halls of an old castle. The subtle ruby red mat accent adds just enough color to tie the composition together without pulling attention away from the artwork. Sometimes all it takes is one thin line to make an entire design sing.

Bonus fact: the artist doesn’t just create incredible artwork... they also make wine. 🍷🎨 Give Nicholas Caluori a follow!

What do you think this story is about?

Address

934 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA
94110

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+14158262321

Website

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