- Check if your spelling is correct, or try removing filters.
- Remove quotes around phrases to match each word individually: "blue drop" will match less than blue drop.
- You can require or exclude terms using + and -: big +blue drop will require a match on blue while big blue -drop will exclude results that contain drop.
Accessibility Tools
On View: Art and Culture Exhibitions
The Library’s exhibition program allows free access to visual art and cultural exhibitions, while promoting San Diego artists and creative community groups.
Central Library Art Gallery
Julius Shulman: Modern San Diego
September 28 – January 19, 2020 | San Diego Central Library Gallery
© J. Paul Getty Trust
Recognized for his work in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, it is not widely known that between 1934 and 2007, architectural photographer Julius Shulman (1910 – 2009) shot over 200 projects in San Diego. His clients were architects, publishers, construction companies, and developers, and included notable San Diego architects Lloyd Ruocco, Sim Bruce Richards, Henry Hester, and Frederick Liebhardt. Shulman’s work, spanning several decades, documented the region’s evolving 20th century architectural landscape and he played an instrumental role in sharing California’s unique post-War modernism with a wide audience. Through a large number of publications and exhibitions, focused largely on his work in Palm Springs and Los Angeles for architects Frank Lloyd Wright, Pierre Koenig, Charles Eames, and Richard Neutra, interest in Shulman’s work continues to this day. However, his images of San Diego have not been widely shared or published. This exhibition will present selected photographs from Julius Shulman’s projects in San Diego, represented in both vintage and contemporary prints, and ephemera that contextualize this historically significant work. Curated by Keith York.
Concurrently, at the La Jolla Historical Society: Julius Shulman: Modern La Jolla
Community Exhibitions
With 35 branch libraries in communities throughout the city, the San Diego Public Library has many great spaces to showcase educational, cultural, intellectual, charitable and recreational exhibits, as well as works by community art groups and individuals.
Credit: F. Hanson
Paintings by Fani Hason
Oct. 14, 2019 – Nov. 30, 2019
Artist reception on Saturday, November 9, 2019 from 2:30p.m.
Central Library - Popular Library
Heal with HeART
Nov.15th - Jan. 16, 2020
Reception: Wednesday, November 20, 2019, from 5 pm - 7 pm in the Mary Hollis Conference Center
HEAL-SD (Homeless Empowerment through Art & Leadership) is a 501c3 nonprofit that provides opportunities for creative self-expression and personal growth for individuals experiencing homelessness in San Diego. Art sales give the artists the ability to earn an income through their hard work, as well as helping to confirm their talent, self-worth, and ability to contribute to their community in a meaningful way. Join us for the annual Art Gala on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 from 5pm – 7pm in the Mary Hollis Conference Center to support this vital program.
Central Library - Special Collections
Bookplates: The Art of Ex Libris
Through 2019
For the first time in more than 30 years, a sampling of the library's 6,000+ bookplates are on display. Bookplates, placed in the front cover of a book to indicate ownership, have been recognized as a minor branch of fine art.
Credit: J. Sewell
Impressions of California Plein Air Artists
Sept. 17, 2019 – Jan. 11, 2020
These images by California artists were created in the open air, capturing the landscape’s natural qualities of light and color. Artists include: Tom Balderas, Brian Blood, Patricia Jasper Clark, Rick Delanty, Debra Joy Groesser, Laurie Kersey, Margaret Larlham, Greg LA Rock, Ned Mueller, Michael Obermeyer, Pauline Roche, Jeff Sewell, Bryan Mark Taylor, Toni Williams, Jeff Yeomans.
Credit: J. Green, et al.
The Art of Change
Sept. 30, 2019 – January 6, 2020
Climate-inspired artwork by local children, artists, and community members. This exhibition comes courtesy of the Climate Science Alliance.
Credit: J. Rodriguez
Impressed with Wax
Nov. 12 – Jan. 28, 2020
An exploration of contemporary encaustic painting. In this series Josie Rodriguez, a Mission Hills artist combines graphite, inks and wax. Beeswax and heat are used at every level of the process creating luminous effects.
Associated Fine Artists
Nov. 1 - Dec. 30, 2019
The Associated Fine Artists art guild promotes artistic development and encourages social interaction by fostering new friendships within the visual arts community. Artworks comprise a broad range of styles and media including; oils, pastels, watercolors, colored pencils, Chinese Brush, collages, and photography.
Credit: S. Webb
Art for the Common Dog
Nov. 16 - Jan. 24, 2020
Steve Webb paints in a contemporary expressionist style, showcasing both residential landscapes and whimsical views from a dog’s perspective.
Credit: C. Coverley
Exploring Glass XLV
Sept. 5 - Nov. 30, 2019
Reception: Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, from 2pm – 4 pm
Glass, sculpture and photography by Cathy Coverley. The exhibit features glass plates that illustrate the elements of earth, air, fire and water as they appear in nature.
Credit: P. Patapow, N. Hines
Things We Love
Oct. 1 - Dec. 31, 2019
An exhibit of favorite landscapes, seascapes, pets and people by local artists, Doris Bertch and Lois Goodman.
Credit: T. Naughton
Works by Terry Naughton
Nov. 4 – Dec. 28, 2019
This award-winning independent illustrator and former Disney Studios animator returns to share his works.
Color Pencil Society
Nov. 5 - Dec. 30, 2019
Reception: Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019 from 2pm - 4pm
The Colored Pencil Society of America, Inc. (CPSA), is a nonprofit (501 c 3) organization founded in 1990 to promote the stature and awareness of colored pencil art as a viable art form to all professional art establishments and to the general public, and to provide a forum for education, communication, and recognition of colored pencil artists.
Magic of Pastels
Nov. 9 – Jan. 27, 2020
Created by local students of the San Diego Community College District Older Adult Program, pieces vary from still life to wildlife and anything in between. Artworks showcase students abilities incorporating line, color, shape, and form.
Exhibition Opportunities
SDPL is pleased to have hosted exhibitions and displays by groups such as West Coast Drawing, San Diego Mesa College Museum Studies Program, the Museum of Photographic Arts’ Education Department, the Pastel Society of San Diego, High Tech High, Veterans Art Project, San Diego Watercolor Society, the Art Glass Association of Southern California, Words Alive, and various individuals artists and craftsmen.
Exhibit Space is made available on equitable basis regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use. The Library endeavors to present a broad spectrum of opinion and viewpoints. The Library does not accept responsibility for ensuring that all points of view are represented in any single exhibit.
To initiate use of Exhibit Space; Library staff must receive a completed online application from the party requesting the exhibit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you choose what to exhibit in the library?
All potential use of Exhibit Space shall be evaluated by criteria, which may include, but are not limited to:
- Public Safety: The exhibit must not pose hazards or threats to public safety or public health and/or must not pose a potential liability for the City of San Diego in any other way.
- Availability of Resources: The availability of Exhibit Space and necessary Library staff support. Preference will be given to exhibits that do not require an excessive outlay of City of San Diego resources.
- Excellence: The level of exhibit quality and conceptual content.
- Security: The nature of the proposed security measures for the exhibit.
- Relationship to Exhibit Space: The scale and nature of the exhibit in connection with environmental, physical, and/or functional contexts, both existing and planned.
- Content Considerations: Exhibit content should be appropriate in material, form and content for the library environment. In general, the Library does not accept exhibits of a purely commercial nature, unless they have a special educational, informational, or cultural value to the community. Materials advocating a particular vote on a candidate or ballot proposition may not be exhibited.
- Associated Programming: Exhibitors are encouraged to participate in a lecture or demonstration during the show. Evaluation will consider willingness to prepare creative associated programming. Associated programming will be arranged in consultation with the Branch Manager.
- Priority: Organizations and individuals based in San Diego or serving primarily San Diego residents, which have not used Exhibit Space within the past year, will be given priority.
How can I exhibit at the Central Library?
Programming for the gallery at Central Library is curated and we are not accepting unsolicited applications. There are limited opportunities to display in cases throughout the library, in the Teen Center, or in the Popular Library on the ground floor. Please contact us with a letter of interest to determine if these spaces are appropriate for your needs.
Photo Gallery
First Folio! The Book That Gave Us Shakespeare, installation view; On tour from the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, DC and co-hosted with The Old Globe.
The Art of Comic-Con, installation view, Central Library; A collaboration with Comic-Con International.
Intersecting lines: The Tenth Invitational Drawing Show, installation view of Underneath by May-ling Martinez.
Rainmaker, installation view.
Art Forms in Nature, installation view, Rancho Peñasquitos Branch Library; Nature photography by Michael Ready in conjunction with Cabrillo National Monument.
METALOCI: Points of Transformation, installation view, Mission Valley Branch Library; Exhibition conceived and organized by the Mesa College Museum Studies Program.
Contact Us
For more information about library exhibitions, email us at [email protected].