SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The Lunar New Year ushers in a new zodiac cycle, and this is the Year of the Horse. To celebrate, we introduce you to a local artist who has been working to make this year’s mascot, “Maverick,” memorable.
Inside Pier 90 on San Francisco’s waterfront, artists are hard at work. For Robin Zhao, that means preparing for the 2026 San Francisco Lunar New Year Parade.
RELATED: How to watch San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade
“This is where we paint, build, and construct decorative floats for the Chinese New Year Parade, Pride celebrations, and many other events. I’m an artist and designer who painted a marble statue at Thrive City. The entire process took about a month – from sculpting and sanding to priming, layering, and the final paint process,” said Zhao.
After a weeks of planning, Zhao dove into creating one of the city’s most iconic statues celebrating the Lunar New Year.
The finished piece is now on display at the Warriors’ arena in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood.
VIDEO: Meet the 2026 San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade mascot, Maverick
Maverick has been revealed as the 2026 mascot for San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade for the Year of the Fire Horse.
“I have to plan everything in my head – which color to lay down first – and make sure we meet a tight deadline. How do we make everything perfect, but also work quickly? I come from a family of artists, so it means a lot to me to continue my family’s artistic legacy. It’s also important for the community because San Francisco is a very artfocused city with a large Chinese population,” said Zhao.
The Year of the Horse is believed to bring success, good fortune, and blessings to the community.
“It means a lot to me because I came to America when I was nine years old, and I felt very disconnected from where I came from. Being part of the Chinese community – especially working on the parade – helps me reconnect with my culture and my community,” Zhao said. “When people see my artwork, I hope it brings them joy and happiness and helps them leap smoothly into the Year of the Horse.”
Copyright © 2026 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.