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Oakland’s Whimsical Gnomes Have Been Spotted Again

After an eight year hiatus, they are back! Now in coronavirus-inspired themes.
By - posted 4/27/2020 No Comment

Gnome Sweet Gnome….Thank you SFist and Oakland News Now for letting us know that the Gnomes of Oakland are back.

Do you remember those painted gnomes seen on Oakland utility poles? According to SFist, they first appeared in Oakland starting in 2012. Impressively, the original gnomes numbered in the thousands reported KTVU.

Now, there’s a new batch of coronavirus-inspired characters are popping up. There’s a female scientist seen at the bottom of a tree at Euclid & Jayne St in Adams Point, a gnome using Zoom at Staten and Van Buren, the first black gnome who is a healthcare worker at the base of a pole and probably more to come and for us to find out.

The original anonymous artist has since moved to Oklahoma says KQED and it seems that there’s a new mysterious painter spreading good vibes during these pandemic times. Whoever you are, thank you!

Oakland resident Pawel Dlugosz writes on Twitter:

Here’s Zennie Abraham’s Commentary Vlog on Oakland’s First Black Gnome:

If you find any new gnomes or if you happen to know the new artist, please let us know and be sure to thank them.



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