Guide to new outdoor art in South Florida: Eye-catching, larger than life — and free to enjoy
Eye-catching outdoor art is popping up in cities throughout South Florida — larger-than-life installations that make you say “What was that?” as you drive by, or inspire you to snap a selfie for your new Threads profile.
These head-turning creations are for everyone to enjoy, as they’re not bound by museum or art gallery walls, or by an entry fee. They live in public parks and plazas, shopping malls, a hotel complex, and several are scattered throughout one city’s downtown. And their messages are fun, serious, educational or up for interpretation. (Many of the projects are part of cities’ Art in Public Places programs.)
We’ll say goodbye to some of them after summer, but others are here to stay. So, here’s our guide to new outdoor art installations (and some that are coming soon) in a city near you.
And, yes, we know it’s hot enough outside to fry an egg on the sidewalk, but that’s the benefit of outdoor art: You can still check it out after dark.
BROWARD COUNTY
USAIN BOLT
What: Bronze sculpture of sprinter Usain Bolt, world recorder holder and eight-time Olympic gold medallist
Where: Ansin Sports Complex, 10801 Miramar Blvd., Miramar
When: Unveiled July 15; permanent display
Created by artist and sculptor Basil Barrington Watson, the statue in the likeness of Usain Bolt, the 36-year-old, 6-foot-5-inch sprinter from Trelawny, Jamaica, is the first monument erected as part of Miramar’s Art in Public Places initiative. The life-sized sculpture immortalizes Bolt’s signature victory pose: leaning back and pointing to the sky. It was transported from Atlanta, where Watson installed “Hope Moving Forward,” a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., in 2021.
“This statue of Usain Bolt will not only serve as a source of inspiration for our residents, but I believe it will also attract visitors from far and wide,” said Miramar Vice Mayor Alexandra P. Davis. “As people come to witness the magnificence of this statue, they will discover the charm and vibrancy of our city, leading to increased tourism and economic opportunities for local businesses.”
A Bolt quote — “Anything is possible, don’t think limits” — is engraved on the statue.
“You must believe in yourself and believe it is possible,” Bolt said during the unveiling. “Even when you don’t feel like getting up, you need to show up and work hard at your craft, and in the end, it will pay off.”
CANOPY BEACH FLOATS
What: Suspended art installation, several yards long, featuring a multicolored display of circular pool floats
Where: Shops at Pembroke Gardens West Plaza (between Brio and Brimstone), 527 SW 145th Terrace, Pembroke Pines
When: On display through July 31; open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays
The open-air mall’s management partnered with an event company to create the summer-themed installation.
“Everyone has really loved it. The excitement generated by seemingly simple summer float tubes has brought in visitors from beyond Pembroke Pines,” said Annette Alvarez, the mall’s property manager. “It’s amazing to see so many unique takes on the art installation, which we continue to share on our own social media pages. It has generated a lot of posts and traffic with guests coming far outside the county to see it and take photos.”
So when is the best time to view it?
“Anytime is good, though (it’s) especially cool when the floats reflect on the ground,” she said. “Visitors are encouraged to have fun, dance, bring friends — if you’re looking to celebrate the everyday, this is a great place to do it.”
Visit pembrokegardens.com/event/3852 for information about a photo contest to win a $150 Salt Life gift card through July 28.
TOTOR
What: 9-foot, 650-pound sculpture of a dog riding a skateboard while holding a surfboard
Where/when: On display at Dania Pointe’s hotel plaza, 139 S. Compass Way, Dania Beach, until September or October; its future permanent location will be at Dania Beach City Hall, 100 W. Dania Beach Blvd.
Dania Beach City Manager Ana M. Garcia previously worked with French artist Stéphane Bolongaro, Totor’s creator, when she was city manager for North Miami Beach, which installed the first Totor in South Florida.
“I still have a sensitivity for the American flag, and Totor represents loyalty,” Bolongaro said in a statement. “Totor is in front of the Town Hall in North Miami Beach and now at Dania Beach because that city is evolving and undergoing a renaissance.”
Totor is just one of many pieces installed throughout the city as part of Dania Beach’s Art in Public Places program. Other sculptures to check out include:
- Seaview by Wyland, 601-649 E. Dania Beach Blvd.
- Soleste by Armando Guiller at 4 N. Federal Highway
- Elevate by Alberto Cavalieri at 600 E. Dania Beach Blvd.
For more information, visit daniabeachfl.gov/3123/Public-Art.
GATHER
What: 1,600-pound, 28-foot, bronze-and-stainless-steel sculpture
Where: Public pedestrian plaza at Mayla Pompano, the two-building, 355-unit multifamily residences under construction two blocks east of U.S. Highway 1 at Atlantic Boulevard in Pompano Beach
When: Scheduled to be installed Aug. 8; permanent display
The sculpture was commissioned by Grover Corlew, a real estate investment management group, and made by San Francisco-based artist Michael Szabo, who also created the bronze and stainless steel infinity symbol sculpture at the north entrance to the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 W. Atlantic Blvd.
“‘Gather’ is a sculptural tribute to the age-old purpose of a plaza as a place for communities to meet and celebrate togetherness and solidarity,” Szabo said in a statement. “The twisting crescent forms that make up the sculpture emerge directly from the plaza hardscape, working together to climb towards the sky in a seemingly precarious yet graceful act of balance. The result is a powerful sense of orchestrated motion and growth, symbolizing a community of diverse individuals working together to achieve a common goal.”
Visit szaboworks.com/current.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
JOURNEY THROUGH TIME: LAPS
What: Six, 8-foot hourglass modules with lights, sounds and large wheels to turn them forward and backward
Where: Old School Square Park, 95 NE First Ave., downtown Delray Beach
When: Through July 30
The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority is showcasing the interactive art installation as part of Summer at the Square, a monthslong series of seasonal events at Old School Square. LAPS was designed and created in Montreal last year by Olivier Landreville, with sound and light design by Serge Maheu.
“The installation is a modern take on the traditional hourglass that gives us the opportunity to literally take control of time,” said Delray Beach DDA Executive Director Laura Simon. “These 8-foot-tall giant modules invite you to change time by turning the wheel at your own desired pace, in one direction or the other, and while doing so take another look at your perception of time.”
Visit delrayoldschoolsquare.com/events.
ARTLIFE WPB INSTALLATIONS
What: Permanent and temporary projects from four local artists, showcased through West Palm Beach’s public arts program, ArtLife WPB
Permanent installations include:
- Orchid City by Ben Leone, a large-scale artwork that lights up at night on the facade of the Anya Apartments, 345 Banyan Blvd. (privately commissioned to fulfill the city’s public art requirement)
- Fruition by Giannina Dwin, a large mosaic and glass mandala at the Eva W. Mack Community Hub, 1540 N. Australian Ave. (commissioned through ArtLife)
Temporary public art projects that are part of The Commons: 8 Artists 8 Spaces, on display until summer 2024, include:
- Bear’s Picnic by Diane Arrieta, with three yellow bears and red baskets on picnic tables made of resin, fiberglass and wood, at City Plaza, 401 Clematis St.
- Play by Ashlee Sanford, made up of five portrait digital prints on aluminum composite, at Jose Marti Park, 351 N. Flagler Drive
“The group of artists highlighted work in a variety of different media and have varying art practices and experience,” said Sybille Welter, the city’s director of arts, culture and community building. “One of ArtLife’s objectives is to build the capacity to foster an appreciation and understanding of art to our residents and visitors by integrating public artworks into the fabric of community life.”