Inside San Diego

Inside San Diego logo

News & information from the City of San Diego

Library | Arts and Culture

New San Diego Public Library Exhibit Features Work of Local Artist James Hubbell

an image of the artist with text about their life next to a couple of art pieces they created

A new exhibit at the San Diego Public Library (SDPL) celebrates the art of San Diego artist James Hubbell. “James Hubbell: Architecture of Jubilation” is on display at four SDPL locations from March 9 – Aug. 4, 2024.

James Hubbell is a world-renowned architectural designer, sculptor, painter and stained-glass artist whose art is influenced by the natural landscape of Southern California. Throughout his career, he has used stone, glass, paint, wood and steel to creature art on walls, roofs, floors and furnishings.

“James Hubbell: Architecture of Jubilation” will be showing concurrently at four SDPL locations.

  • Central Library Art Gallery: Exhibit featuring Hubbell’s 70-plus-year career as a contemporary master who expresses himself through nature-inspired art, architecture and functional objects and spaces.
  • Scripps Miramar Ranch Library: “A Mountain Home & Studios” exhibit features Hubbell’s studio and some of his most famous art.
  • Mission Valley Library: “The Pacific Rim Project” tells the story of Hubbell’s vision that nations located on the Pacific Rim can find common ground through art.
  • Otay Mesa-Nestor Library: “Lado a Lado” focuses on Hubbell’s work in northern Baja California and his first experiment in community-built art parks.

The exhibit kicks off with an opening reception from 5 – 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 at the Central Library Art Gallery. The reception will feature food, music by artist Pablo Dodero and special guests including James Hubbell’s son Drew.

Several other programs are planned, including a film screening, art lectures, a docent tour and a stained-glass workshop. For more information, visit SDPL’s visual arts webpage.

The exhibition is an official community initiative of the World Design Capital San Diego/Tijuana 2024. It was made possible by a collaboration between SDPL, the San Diego Commission for Arts & Culture, the Library Foundation SD and the Ilan-Lael Foundation.

San Diego Public Library’s Visual Arts program is dedicated to providing access and connection to the arts and culture landscape in San Diego while providing visible opportunities to local and regional artists. 

About the San Diego Public Library   

With a vision of being the place for opportunity, discovery and inspiration, the San Diego Public Library is a hub for knowledge and lifelong learning. As the largest library system in the region, it serves a population of more than 1.4 million people. Learn about events at the San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common and 35 community branch libraries, find links to programs and resources or search for materials in the online catalog at www.sandiegolibrary.org.