Explore the concerts and lectures the Athenaeum has to offer. Enjoy intimate jazz, chamber, and new music concerts, as well as artists’ talks, art history lectures, and music lectures.
The Athenaeum Art Center (AAC) is a vibrant 5,000-square-foot art space in San Diego’s Bread & Salt Building. Our print studio with 10 presses, including 19th-century Columbian and Imperial platen presses, and over 300 cases of type. We offer weekly Open Print studio time for printmakers of all skill levels. Through the Athenaeum School of the Arts, we teach painting, sculpture, ceramics, encaustic wax, printmaking, and bookbinding, along with weekly drop-in life drawing sessions.
The Catherine and Robert Palmer Gallery and our classroom gallery are open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended hours (5 to 8 p.m.) on the second Saturday of each month for the Barrio Art Crawl. We also host pop-up exhibitions with community organizations, concerts, lectures, and community-centered special events, and the space is available to rent. Our bilingual staff welcomes everyone. Follow us on social media, become a member, and join our email list to stay connected.
Exhibitions
34th Annual Juried Exhibition
Featuring 48 works by 42 artists selected from more than 1,000 submissions, the 34th Annual Juried Exhibition highlights the breadth and diversity of contemporary art being created across the San Diego–Tijuana region. This year’s exhibition was juried by internationally acclaimed artist and photographer Paul Mpagi Sepuya.
The show will be on display in the Joseph Clayes III Gallery from August 1–October 9, 2026.
The Athenaeum offers a wealth of resources that are unique to this region. The library, devoted exclusively to music and art, has an outstanding and ever-expanding collection of books, periodicals, reference material, CDs, DVDs, sheet music, and librettos, as well as one of the most significant collections of artists' books in Southern California. Members have access to a wide variety of materials that range from rare, historic items to the latest in video technology.
Murals of La Jolla is a project of the Athenaeum. The mural project enhances the civic character and vitality of the community by commissioning public art projects on private property throughout La Jolla. Each work is on view for a minimum of two years. Since 2010, fifty-five large-scale artworks have appeared in a variety of locations throughout the village of La Jolla, some prominently displayed while others are tucked away in more discreet locations.
The Athenaeum's
Erika & Fred Torri
Artists’ Books Collection
Artists' books are works of art in book form. They are published in small editions or as one-of-a-kind objects. The Athenaeum's artists' books collection has become one of the most important collections in its holdings and is a driving force in the library's development. Among its holdings, it contains the complete collection of artists' books by Ed Ruscha, Ida Applebroog, Allen Ruppersberg, John Baldessari, Bruce Nauman, and other artists.
Becoming a member is the best way to enjoy everything that the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library—San Diego's only membership library—has to offer. For only $50 a year, members may check out materials from the library, receive exclusive discounts on our programs, and more! An Athenaeum Music & Arts Library membership supports art and music in San Diego.
The Athenaeum is supported by members like you!
