From the iconic “Sun God” to the bold “Fallen Star,” the Stuart Collection has made its mark on the UC San Diego campus over the past four decades. Discover behind-the-scenes stories of the first 40 years.

The UC San Diego Stuart Collection features one-of-a-kind sculptures by leading artists of our time.

The Stuart Collection has certainly made its mark on the UC San Diego campus over the past four decades. In recognition of the first 40 years of the one-of-a-kind collection, we sat down with Stuart Collection Director Mary Beebe and Operations Manager Mathieu Gregoire to hear behind-the-scenes stories, how artists take the lead in making their ideas come to life, what sculpture will be revealed next, and more.

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The artwork represents an impressive assemblage of public art from visionaries such as Robert Irwin, Niki de Saint Phalle, Bruce Nauman and Kiki Smith.

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Bring the Stuart Collection into your home with a hardcover edition of "Landmarks: Sculpture Commissions for the Stuart Collection at the University of California San Diego." The catalog offers rare interviews with artists, behind-the-scenes anecdotes about how each sculpture came to life and over 230 photographs depicting the 40-year evolution of the collection.

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There are more than 20 sculptures in the Stuart Collection, located throughout the 1,200-acre UC San Diego campus. Visitors are invited to take a free, self-guided tour, perfect for families and art aficionados alike. As an alternative, a virtual tour is also available that includes accounts of how each work was made and the ways that they are uniquely integrated into the landscape and architecture of the university.

Take a virtual tour