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Most of the art offerings can be found at its many private art galleries that are located throughout the village of La Jolla. However, there are also 2 public art institutions, 1 post office, and 1 university (albeit outside the village) that are worth your time and energy.

Museum of Contemporary Art (700 Prospect Street) - The Museum has one of the best pieces of property in the village of La Jolla - it is located right above the cliffs of the long stretch along La Jolla Cove. Unlike other museums in the region, this museum makes the beautiful scenery part of its design. Large windows in the main gallery spaces allow patrons the opportunity to look out to the deep blue Pacific Ocean; the outside gallery invites patrons to step out and smell the ocean air. You can even step outside a gate and go across the street to get a closer look at the ocean. An intercom at the gate allows you to get back into the museum - be sure to ask one of the guards for the specifics. Like any good museum, the MCA has a good bookstore and a nice café that are worth exploring and enjoying.

U.S. Post Office, La Jolla (1140 Wall Street)- Located at the corner of Wall Street and Ivanhoe Avenue in the village of La Jolla, the little Post Office is always buzzing with business from the local residents and business owners. We mention the Post Office because it features a 1936 mural called "California Landscape" by Belle Baranceanu. The oil on canvas mural was painted as a commission for the Section of Fine Arts as part of President Roosevelt's 'New Deal' program which made art accessible to an economically depressed public.

Athenaeum Music & Arts Library (1008 Wall Street)- Located 2 blocks west of the La Jolla Post Office, the Athenaeum is a charming place to stop in and sit a spell. The site of the former La Jolla Library, the Athenaeum continues to invite people to enjoy its arts and music library collection in the beautiful confines of the 108-year old Spanish style building. Although it is a membership lending library (and is one of 17 membership libraries in the country), admission is free to the art exhibits and the library. It is worth checking out.
For more information: (858) 454-5872 (24-hour recorded information)

UCSD Stuart Collection (9500 Gilman Drive)- Since 1983, the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) has embarked upon a monumental effort to bring significant public art works to its 1,200 acre campus. The art does a remarkable job of humanizing an otherwise concrete jungle of university buildings. The art also attracts a number of visitors who just want to visit the Stuart Collection. UCSD has made it easier for visitors to visit the campus on the weekends by making parking free on campus.

If you are so inclined to view all 16 works of the Stuart Collection, it could take you up to 2.5 hours. We recommend that you use this Map if you want to visit all or part of the Collection. Personally, our favorite piece in the Collection is the Sun God. Like many of the artist's (Niki de Saint Phalle) works, her Sun God brings a smile to our face and reminds us that we cannot take life too seriously all the time. We are not alone in our appreciation of this great art piece - the students at UCSD hold an annual Sun God Festival and have even gone to great lengths to decorate the bird for special occasions.

Since 1983, UCSD has been able to build its collection to include major works from 16 artists of international stature including Niki de Saint Phalle (Sun God), Robert Irwin (Two Running Violet V Forms), Richard Fleischner (La Jolla Project), Nam June Paik (Something Pacific), Terry Allen (Trees), Ian Hamilton Finlay (UNDA), Bruce Nauman (Vices and Virtues), William Wegman (La Jolla Vista View), Michael Asher (Untitled), Jackie Ferrara (Terrace), Jenny Holzer (Green Table), Alexis Smith (Snake Path), Elizabeth Murray (Red Shoe), Kiki Smith (Standing), John Baldessari (READ/WRITE/THINK/DREAM), and finally, Tim Hawkinson (Bear).

For more information: (858)534-2117