‘B’ Street Pier
1140 North Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101

2019 Winners
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Fergus Mulvaney

Sculpting Since: 1993
Location:  Dublin, Ireland

Fate works in funny ways. Fergus Mulvany never thought about sand sculpting while studying fine art in Dublin. Even as a child, he was never drawn to playing in the sand at the beach. But Fergus’ name was randomly drawn from those of hundreds of students to participate in a sand festival held in Holland in 1993. And since that fateful event, he has developed a passion for the gritty stuff, competing all over the world. Of course he works in other media as well. During winter, Fergus focuses on snow and ice sculptures and works with more traditional materials such as steel, wood, cement and glass. Regardless of the material, Fergus’s creative philosophy remains the same, “I’m guided by an organic process rather than a strict idea,” he said. And of course, sometimes he’s simply guided by fate.

Notable Achievements:

  • 2nd place, World Masters Class, 2016 and 2015 U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge, San Diego
  • Grand prize, 2014 and 2013 European Championships, Zandvoort, Holland
  • 2nd place and Sculptors’ Choice awards, World Masters Class, 2012 U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge, San Diego
  • Sculptors’ Choice Award, 3 consecutive years, Sand World Festival, Weymouth, England
  • 1st prize at the 2011 Tournament of Champions in Washington
  • 4th prize at the 2011 U.S. Championships in Florida
  • Sculptor’s Choice Award at the 2011 Solo International Championships in Moscow, Russia

Website: http://www.sandworld.co.uk/meet-the-sculptors/fergus-melvaney/

USSSC + DAE is cancelled.

It was our great honor to have produced this iconic event for 8 years.  USA Today had named it to the ‘Top 10 in the Nation’ and American Express called it ‘one of the top 20 seaside festivals in the world’.

Hundreds of millions of media impressions were registered worldwide and over 40,000 attended the festivities each year on the downtown San Diego embarcadero. 

We thank the Master Sand Artists from Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas who created magnificent sculptures from nothing more than sand and water, as well as the artists who work in other media, the entertainers, food providers, sponsors, media, staff, suppliers, volunteers and the Port of San Diego who made the event possible.

Should a title sponsor or new production company wish to bring it back to benefit local non-profits and the Southern California community at large, we will endeavor to help advise as long as we are able. 

For now, enjoy the website from years past.*

Thank you once more.

Joyce and Gordon Summer, Executive Producers

on behalf of Bruce, Tricia, Steve and the entire USSSC team.

This Website sculpted one grain at a time by Web Services Management.