The Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego (ICA San Diego) is a living laboratory for the transformational power of art to build vibrant communities.
Core Values
Spark Curiosity
Our curatorial team works closely with exhibiting artists to present works they may not have the opportunity to show in more traditional spaces. Our community events bring artists together with thinkers across disciplines for lively discussions about of-the-moment topics and their impact on future generations. And our outreach programs guide students through our exhibitions, where our Teaching Artists encourage them to look closely, question, and share their perspectives about what they see.
Open Doors
Admission to our exhibitions and events at Central (Balboa Park) and North (Encinitas) are always complimentary. We offer a safe space for artists to take risks. And our outreach programs bring art directly to students and seniors.
Connect the Dots
Our team of volunteer Engagement Guides are available to chat about whatever elements of our exhibitions interest you the most—whether it’s the artist’s history, how an artwork makes you feel, or a particular detail (a shape, a color, texture). Whatever you’re drawn to! This approach is rooted in Visual Thinking Strategies, an inquiry-based method that encourages individual interpretation of the exhibition. This is the same approach we use when giving school group tours, and when we bring art into classrooms across San Diego County as part of our Valise Program.
Land Acknowledgement
The Institute of Contemporary Art San Diego acknowledges that our Central campus sits on the ancestral homeland of the Kumeyaay Peoples, and our North campus is located on the ancestral land of the Rincon Band of the Lúiseno. We wish to pay our respects to the ancestors, elders, and relatives of the Kumeyaay Nation and Rincon Band of the Lúiseno who have cared for the land on which ICA San Diego resides. As visitors we recognize that their pain and suffering has made it possible for us to be here. We are committed to standing in solidarity by respecting the lands and its people.
Free Admission. Donations Welcome. ICA San Diego / Central is located at 1439 El Prado in Balboa Park, and ICA San Diego / North is located at 1550 S. El Camino Real in Encinitas.
Current & Upcoming Exhibitions
Las Hermanas Iglesias: wontloversrevoltnow
Now through December 27, 2025
Since 2005, sisters Lisa and Janelle Iglesias have collaborated creatively as Las Hermanas Iglesias in addition to their individual studio practices. Their work often considers the interconnected social systems that govern not only human behavior but our survival as well. Working collaboratively with other family members including their mother and children, as well as the public, their projects and installations find a balance between multiplicity, deep empathy, and play.
Spanning the entire ICA / North campus, wontloversrevoltnow invites visitors into a conversation about care and community. Through a combination of existing work and new projects created specifically for this exhibition, Las Hermanas Iglesias generously weave their own navigations of loss, motherhood and current events into works that speak to how we value, define, and provide caregiving.
RSVP to the exhibition opening on Saturday, August 16! Free Admission. Donations Welcome.
More upcoming exhibitions can be found HERE.
Visit The Sculpture Trail at ICA North:
Eleven site-specific installations inspired by the coastal landscapes that surround them.
Interested in Art Classes, click HERE for more information.
Interested in Ceramics, click HERE for more information.
Visit Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) North
Address:
1550 S El Camino Real
Encinitas, CA
92024
Phone:
(760) 436-6611
Hours:
Saturday–Sunday 12:00 to 5:00 pm
Monday–Friday Closed
Ceramics Lab Membership open every day
Website:
ICA San Diego / North, South El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA