Sun God, Outdoor sculpture at University of California San Diego campus, US
Sun God is a towering outdoor sculpture covered in bright mosaics and colorful patterns that catch and reflect sunlight throughout the day. The work integrates various materials including ceramic tiles, colored glass and metal components into its structure, creating a visually dynamic composition that changes appearance as light shifts.
Artist James T. Hubbell completed this permanent work in 1983, establishing the beginning of the Stuart Collection as an ambitious public art program at the university. It was one of the first pieces commissioned as part of this effort to integrate contemporary art into campus life.
The sculpture serves as a gathering place where students and visitors naturally congregate, especially during the annual spring festival that has become a defining campus tradition. People use this space to connect, celebrate and photograph, making it a social hub within the university grounds.
The sculpture is located near the Faculty Club and can be reached from multiple walking paths across campus. Various vantage points around it allow visitors to view the mosaic details and color effects from different angles.
The artist deliberately incorporated reflective materials that cause the sculpture to appear different depending on the time of day and weather conditions. This means every visit offers a different visual experience based on when you see it and how the light falls.
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