A Festive Debut
Experience the inauguration of Ann Hamilton's KAHNOP · TO TELL A STORY in this photo essay that captures the festive celebration.
Read MoreAbout
The site-specific sculptures that comprise the Stuart Collection each have a unique story to tell. The collection, created in 1981, is designed to enrich the cultural, intellectual and scholarly life of the campus and community.
Support
The Stuart Collection is completely self-sustaining, relying on the generosity of donors to fund new projects. Please consider making a contribution to the Mary Beebe Legacy Endowment to help us continue to grow and maintain our collection.
The Artists
The Stuart Collection commissions work by noted contemporary artists from around the globe who think in interesting ways. When an artist is identified, they are invited to the university to explore the campus and imagine where their work could come to life. Many of the individuals who have designed works for the collection are associated with movements or attitudes that are seldom represented in public sculpture collections, from Robert Irwin to Kiki Smith and Mark Bradford.
KAHNOP · TO TELL A STORY
The Stuart Collection’s newest addition has been likened to an “ocean of words.” The 800-foot-long pathway created by Ann Hamilton features 1,300 quotes from an estimated 300 sources connected to UC San Diego. Some words are raised like a rubber stamp, while others are engraved into the basalt stones. The work also includes a feminist poem called "Yeechesh Cha’alk" ("A Woman’s Heart"), written by two of the university’s scholars, Dr. Alexandria Hunter and Eva Trujillo, to honor the regional history of the Kumeyaay Nation.
Visit
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.
Commitment to Equity and Inclusion
At UC San Diego, we believe that true excellence is achieved through productive relationships among people of diverse perspectives. We value the cultural diversity and unique talents of our students, faculty and staff, who enrich our lives and drive innovation. We acknowledge that our society carries historical biases, and we seek to foster understanding and respect among individuals and groups through awareness and education. The Stuart Collection is committed to upholding these values in alignment with the university’s Principles of Community.
Land Acknowledgement
The UC San Diego community holds great respect for the land and the original people of the area where our campus is located. The university is built on the un-ceded territory of the Kumeyaay Nation. Today, the Kumeyaay people continue to maintain their political sovereignty and cultural traditions as vital members of the San Diego community. We acknowledge their tremendous contributions to our region and thank them for their stewardship.
