At the eastern end of the Convention Center in Plaza Park is a 28-foot tall sculpture that resembles an immense, colorful abstract face. One half of the face is comprised of ceramic mosaic tiles in eye-catching colors of forest green, rose pink, bright yellow, maroon, and shades of red and blue. The other half is made of black, silver and white mirrored tiles while the neck is covered in multi-colored stones.

Artist Niki de Saint Phalle is internationally renowned for her giant, magical mosaic sculptures, created “Coming Together” as a symbol of the duality of the self. The sculpture has a masculine and feminine side as well as bright and dark colors representing the human personality. 

This creative collection of textures, shapes, and colors could not be a better artistic piece for the San Diego Convention Center — a place for the meeting, mingling, and collaboration of people with wonderfully diverse backgrounds.

Permanently installed in the Convention Center’s outdoor amphitheater, the Flama de la Amistad’s (Flame of Friendship) polished, stainless-steel flames shimmer in the sunlight yet remain frozen against San Diego’s bright blue sky. Weighing 3,700 pounds and standing 20 feet tall and eight feet wide, the Flama de la Amistad is visible to all who walk or travel by boat on the Center’s bay side.

Mexican artist Leonardo Nierman has many of his sculptures and paintings displayed in countries across the globe. In September of 2000, Nierman and the Mexican government presented the “Flame of Friendship” to the city of San Diego as an everlasting symbol of goodwill and friendship.

James Carpenter’s “Luminous Arc” is an architectural highlight of the Convention Center’s Grand Staircase and Skywalk, located at the Center’s half-point.  At night, the illuminated stairs look like a golden arch leading visitors to the Center’s bayside terraces and observation rotunda. Twenty-one stainless steel masts with light-reflecting prisms at their tips create a fan-like shape over the staircase.  Stroll through the “Luminous Arc” during the day or in the evening to enjoy a panoramic view of San Diego Bay.

Colorful and whimsical, Urban Trees bring fun and creativity to San Diego’s waterfront.  The Port of San Diego initiated the public artwork project to enliven the embarcadero with 30 tree-like sculptures selected from dozens of artists’ entries.  All 30 trees are on loan to the Port and will be on display for one year.   

Visitors to the San Diego Convention Center can take a stroll along the water to enjoy fantastic weather while viewing the Urban Trees along the one-mile stretch between Broadway Pier and Hawthorn Street.

Made of re-used and scrap steel, this Urban Tree features a tall body of kelp with a giant Green Sea Turtle swimming peacefully through the kelp’s blades.  The Green Sea Turtle is on the endangered species list due to many years of hunting, pollution, and over- fishing.  Passionate about the environment and concerned about the pollution of the ocean, the artist created this tree with the hope of bringing awareness to the plight of the only sea turtle indigenous to San Diego Bay.

A symbol of family unity, Family Tree by the Sea is a concrete sculpture of a mother and father whose bodies and arms are fused into one as they hold their small child.  The rounded arms of the parents visualize the family’s circle of love.  The colorful and glistening mosaic of glass and seashells decorate the mother’s dress and are a symbol of her femininity.  This contrasts with the father figure which has no decoration and is made of solid, rough concrete.  The artist has the utmost respect for the father figure and considers him the family’s foundation. 

Much of the artist’s work reflects the idea of opposing forces, and Family Tree by the Sea is a contemplation of the binary opposition of man and woman, shiny, transparent glass and solid concrete, family conflict and family harmony.   

This artwork depicts silvery-white fish caught in a net and other small creatures swimming amongst an old trash can and a rusty wire fence. Barnacles grow on a car tire that sits on the ocean floor.  Approximately 17’ tall and constructed of steel, sculpted and cast glass, this is the artist’s statement about the lack of care humans show for the ocean. 

Melotree depicts mirror-reflected silhouettes of a man playing the trumpet.  The vibrant orange, red, blue, yellow, and green colors reflect the excitement of the music he plays.