Entry No. 11 — the San Diego file — filed under: giant-sculpture
"Bear" by Tim Hawkinson (Stuart Collection, UCSD)
Eight boulders of local granite, stacked 23.5 feet tall and weighing 180 tons total, engineered into the unmistakable shape of a child's teddy bear — using a construction method the artist himself called "unknown in the construction world." Students routinely put Valentine's heart-glasses, crew uniforms, and Harry Potter costumes on it.
The story
You wouldn't expect to find an overgrown childhood toy lurking among the glass-and-steel research labs of a high-tech academic campus, but that is precisely what is waiting in the courtyard at UC San Diego. Rising 23.5 feet above the pavement, Tim Hawkinson's *Bear* is assembled from eight massive local granite boulders weighing a staggering 180 tons. It takes the unyielding, primordial texture of raw California rock and forces it into the unmistakable shape of a soft teddy bear.
Making 180 tons of granite look like a squishy plushie required serious structural acrobatics. Hawkinson worked alongside engineers to connect and balance the colossal stones using an assembly process the artist described as 'unknown in the construction world.' Positioned between Atkinson Hall and the Computer Science and Engineering building, the giant monolith sits like a heavy, absurd punchline against the surrounding high-tech architecture.
Because it occupies the heart of the engineering quad, the bear has naturally been adopted into campus lore. UC San Diego students routinely turn the 180-ton sculpture into an overgrown mannequin—decorating it with giant Valentine's heart-glasses, rowing crew uniforms, or full Harry Potter robes depending on the season.
What it's like
Head into the Jacobs School of Engineering courtyard at 9500 Gilman Drive to find the sculpture standing outdoors between Atkinson Hall and the CSE building. Since it is public campus art, it is free and accessible 24/7. Stop by during the day to catch the full visual contrast of raw granite against sleek glass labs, grab a coffee from a nearby campus cafe, and inspect the bear's head to see whatever costume or prank attire students have dressed it in lately.
The move: Walk the engineering courtyard between Atkinson Hall and the CSE building to find it looming between glass-and-steel research labs, then grab coffee at one of the campus cafes and see if it's currently costumed for some student prank.
- 📍 La Jolla (UC San Diego campus)
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093 (academic courtyard, Jacobs School of Engineering)
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- "Trees" by Terry Allen (Stuart Collection, UCSD) — Walk a short distance across the UCSD campus to find another Stuart Collection installation—three lead-wrapped eucalyptus trees emitting hidden audio recordings.
- "Snake Path" by Alexis Smith (Stuart Collection, UCSD) — Continue your campus art walk a couple of minutes away along a 560-foot tiled slate serpent winding up the hill toward Geisel Library.
- Sunny Jim Cave (The Cave Store) — Head from campus down to the La Jolla coastline to walk down a hand-dug 1902 tunnel inside a historic store straight into a sea cave.
Good to know
Where on campus is the sculpture located?
It stands in the open academic courtyard of the Jacobs School of Engineering, nestled between Atkinson Hall and the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) building.
How big and heavy is the Bear?
The sculpture stands 23.5 feet tall and is built from eight granite boulders weighing a combined total of 180 tons.
Is there an admission fee or set hours?
No, it is an outdoor piece of public art on the UC San Diego campus, so it is free to view 24/7.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site
last checked: 2026-07-19