The Stuart Collection is a collection of site-specific public art on the campus of the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego). Founded in 1981, it comprises permanent outdoor artworks commissioned from internationally recognized contemporary artists, integrated into the campus landscape and buildings.
Overview
The collection was conceived by and named after its initial benefactor, James Stuart DeSilva, who was inspired to fund a public art collection after travels in Europe raised his awareness of the power of art in public spaces. It was established through a partnership between UC San Diego and the Stuart Collection Foundation. The collection was administered by founding Director Mary L. Beebe from 1981 until 2021, when she was succeeded by Jessica Berlanga Taylor, the current Executive Director and Chief Campus Curator.
Mission and Approach
The mission of the Stuart Collection is to enrich the cultural, intellectual, and scholarly life of the UC San Diego campus community and the broader San Diego community by cultivating a unique assemblage of site-specific works by leading contemporary artists. Distinguished from a traditional sculpture garden, the artworks are site-specific—many are fused to campus buildings or integrated into the landscape itself. Artists are invited to explore the campus and select a location that inspires their work. Proposals are reviewed by an advisory board and undergo a campus review process before approval.
Artworks
As of 2025, the collection contains 22 permanent works by 21 artists. Notable installations include:
| # | Year | Name | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1983 | Sun God | Niki de Saint Phalle |
| 2 | 1983 | Two Running Violet V Forms | Robert Irwin |
| 3 | 1984 | La Jolla Project | Richard Fleischner |
| 4 | 1986 | Trees | Terry Allen |
| 5 | 1986 | Something Pacific | Nam June Paik |
| 6 | 1987 | UNDA | Ian Hamilton Finlay |
| 7 | 1988 | Vices and Virtues | Bruce Nauman |
| 8 | 1988 | La Jolla Vista View | William Wegman |
| 9 | 1991 | Terrace | Jackie Ferrara |
| 10 | 1991 | Untitled | Michael Asher |
| 11 | 1992 | Green Table | Jenny Holzer |
| 12 | 1992 | Snake Path | Alexis Smith |
| 13 | 1996 | Red Shoe | Elizabeth Murray |
| 14 | 1998 | Standing | Kiki Smith |
| 15 | 2001 | READ/WRITE/THINK/DREAM | John Baldessari |
| 16 | 2005 | Bear | Tim Hawkinson |
| 17 | 2008 | Another | Barbara Kruger |
| 18 | 2012 | Fallen Star | Do Ho Suh |
| 19 | 2017 | The Wind Garden | John Luther Adams |
| 20 | 2018 | What Hath God Wrought | Mark Bradford |
| 21 | 2021 | Same Old Paradise | Alexis Smith |
| 22 | 2023 | KAHNOP • TO TELL A STORY | Ann Hamilton |
Emerging Artists Program
In 2024, the Stuart Collection launched an Emerging Artists Program, funded by the Kraus and Jacobs Fund, to commission first-time permanent public artworks from younger artists. The inaugural cohort includes the collective RojoNegro (Noé Martínez and María Sosa), sculptor Max Hooper Schneider, and poet and artist Precious Okoyomon. A new work by RojoNegro, "La Asamblea del Barro," is scheduled for installation in the Triton Center in 2026.
Support and Funding
The collection is supported by the UC San Diego Department of Visual Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Friends of the Stuart Collection, and numerous private organizations, foundations, and individuals. All sculptures are funded through private donations.
