Sculpture On Loan 

The Public Art Sculpture Loan program invited artists to submit their existing outdoor sculptures to be considered for display on the sculpture pads installed across the City's five communities. Click here for more information.

Encinitas Up Close, Santa Fe Undercrossing

The City of Encinitas funded a public art project to create 53 mosaic panels for permanent installation at the redesigned Santa Fe Drive undercrossing as part of the Caltrans and SANDAG Build NCC project. The mosaics were created by Encinitas high school and college students and adult artists. Interested artists submitted applications that were evaluated by the Commission for the Arts and approved by the City Council. The new public art installation reflects the culture of the five communities of Encinitas. With the theme “Encinitas Up Close,” the mosaics depict local flora and fauna, including people, abstract or representational in form, and are dynamic and distinguishable from a distance. The mosaic panels, 3’ x 5’ in size, were designed for the north and south walls of the bike and pedestrian lanes to enhance the use by the public. Frames for the mosaics were inset into the undercrossing walls to give the sense of an outdoor art exhibition.

A virtual walking tour has been created with images of each mosaic, accompanied by an artist statement and bio.

Encinitas Boulevard Undercrossing

The City of Encinitas funded a public art project to add artistic elements to the side walls of the Encinitas Boulevard undercrossing as part of the Caltrans and SANDAG Build NCC project. The 3' tall horizontal ribbons of mosaic artwork on the north and south walls of the bike and pedestrian lanes to enhance the use by the public.

Funding for the project was approved by the City Council on June 20, 2018. Interested professional artists and artist teams submitted applications in the fall of 2020 that were evaluated by an Ad Hoc Committee, followed by interviews and a public survey. The design by Amy Baur and Brian Boldon, of In Plain Sight, was the top choice in the public survey, was unanimously recommended by the Commission for the Arts and was approved by the City Council February 17, 2021.

Inspiration for chosen artists was the underpass as a hinge/gateway that separates the ocean from the mountains, providing a sense of anticipation as one travels west to the beach or east toward the mountains.

Imagery used includes local coastal and mountain flora and fauna layered with geometric shapes reflecting concrete patterns above and below the artwork. Using a process called "frit printing," much of the photographic imagery will collage in and around areas of colorful glazes. High-resolution color imagery will be laser printed and hand painted with enamels for fusing to glazed ceramic surfaces in kilns. The resulting effect is to give the panels a look that’s like modern stained glass. After firing, the imagery is impervious to UV light, dust, scratches, and freeze/thaw conditions.

Read the Encinitas Advocate article.

 Encinitas Public Art Collection

Encinitas is home to a vibrant community of artists who work in all media, including public art. There is an abundance of public art in city parks, buildings, schools, along roadways, and on private property.