Circular reflecting pool, 36 Sq Ft (27′ diameter x 16″ depth)
Rectangular reflecting pool, 262 Sq Ft, (9′ x 27′ x 20″ depth)
Bas relief mural, 62.4 Sq Ft, (119 x 75.5 x 3”), 450 square feet overall

Bas relief mural, 62.4 Sq Ft, (119 x 75.5 x 3”), 450 square feet overall Miami-based artist Nina Surel (b. 1971, Buenos Aires, Argentina) blends historical, mythological, and natural elements in Lunar Bodies (Sisters of the Moon), a stoneware bas relief mural of interlocking ceramic tiles and series of re-imagined mosaicked reflecting pools from the site’s original design. Featuring symbolic patterns that evoke Florida’s unique ecology and lore, the work continues Surel’s practice of reimagining ancient myths through a contemporary lens. Honoring the sacred feminine, ritual, and craft are integral elements of her work. At the center of the bas relief mural, mermaids reference Afro-Caribbean and Mediterranean folklore, reflecting Miami’s position as a geographic crossroads while imbuing the site with benevolent tidings for travelers.

Built in the 1960s as the original Pan American Airways Regional Headquarters, the site’s iconic mid-century modern architecture incorporates many historically significant and unique design features. Looking to the past and the future, Surel contributes to this legacy while delicately intervening within it. Surel’s collage-like design in pastel ceramic tile pays homage to the original aesthetics, evokes Miami’s vernacular architecture, and engages Florida’s pre-colonial histories and timeless ecological narratives.

This artwork is part of the collection of the Miami-Dade County Art in Public Places program, made possible with the support of the Art in Public Places Trust, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners. Miamidadepublicart.org, miamidadearts.org

Image credit: Studio Palco