Maxine Hall Health Center
1301 Pierce Street
Western Addition
This mural, by Win Ng, is 10′ x 6′ and made of ceramic tiles. The mural depicts various elements of medical science. The mural was installed in 1968.
Win Ng (1963-1991) was born in Chinatown, San Francisco. He studied at Saint Mary’s Academy and the City College of San Francisco and San Francisco State University. After serving in the United States Army he studied at the San Francisco Art Institute receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1959. He began the Masters of Fine Arts program at Mills College in 1960 but did not complete the program.
In 1965 Ng met artist Spaulding Taylor and shifted his focus toward utilitarian work. The two founded Environmental Ceramics which later became one of my favorite stores – Taylor and Ng.
Win Ng created pottery, book designs and linens for over 20 years.
Taylor & Ng not only created a signature style still in demand by collectors, but helped to popularize Asian culture and cuisine. The Taylor & Ng company is credited with bringing the Chinese wok to the U.S. and making it a common kitchen utensil. The Taylor & Ng department store closed in 1985.
Ng died on September 6, 1991 from AIDS related complications. He was 55.
Another large mural by Ng, measuring 100 by 16 foot mural, graces the concourse level of the Orinda BART station in Contra Costa County.
His artwork is in the collections of the Smithsonian, the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Victoria & Albert Museum, Museum of Contemporary Crafts, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the De Young Museum.
This piece was commissioned by the San Francisco Art Commission