Exploring historic Clematis Street in West Palm Beach is a great way to find some great murals…read more Love this sweet one that shows off the innocence of young love. Such a cute mural. "I Lost My Shoe When I Met You" is a large installation by Croatian artist Lonac. The details of the butterflies flying out of the boy's hat and his bare foot (as he lost his shoe) are so cute. The image of the two schoolchildren sitting on a bench with their backpacks and school books is so endearing and quite unexpected for such a large piece.

While in downtown Delray Beach, I noticed the "Delray Progress" mural at the South Palm Beach…read moreCounty Courthouse. Covering two exterior walls along West Atlantic Avenue and SW 2nd Avenue, this massive 3,300 square-foot public artwork serves as an unofficial artistic gateway to downtown Delray Beach. Created by artists Andrew Reid, Carlos Alves, and JC Carroll, named the mural after an early local newspaper, the Delray Progress and it celebrates the history, people, culture, and industries that have shaped Delray Beach and South Palm Beach County. Look closely and in the mural you can spot references to agriculture, the beaches, local flora and fauna, and the diverse communities that have contributed to the city's development. The mural is divided into two distinct themes, with the beach and culture theme featured on the northwest wall and the agriculture theme on the northeast wall. On the beach culture wall you can see a woman in a vintage bathing suit swimming and a woman in her tennis outfit representing how early Delray marketed itself as a winter resort where northerners enjoyed tennis clubs. The painters palette symbolizes how Delray has had an artists colony since the 1920's. The tile roofed buildings in the background are the Mediterranean Revival buildings in downtown. The man holding the newspaper that says Palm beach county an Illustrated history is a direct nod to the murals purpose, to illustrate local history. Above Palm Beach Illustrated history is a Barefoot Mailman, the mail carriers who walked the beach in the 1880's delivering mail from Palm Beach to Miami, three days each way. In the agriculture picture, the muscular arm of a worker in a straw hat bent over a crate represents how Delray started as an agricultural settlement in 1894 and by 1910 it promoted itself as the agriculture capital of South Florida. The crates of pineapples front and center were Delray's first boom crop in the late 1890's before a blight wiped them out. Other produce like citrus, tomatoes, and peppers are depicted in the crates. Together, the scenes connect Delray's past with its present, highlighting the evolution of the community and the people and industries that helped shape it. One of my favorite aspects of "Delray Progress" is how a previously underused outdoor seating area was turned it into an inviting pocket park. The mural helps to create a welcoming space for residents and visitors to enjoy while visiting the courthouse, Delray Beach Library, or visiting downtown. I love how "Delray Progress" tells the story of Delray Beach through art which celebrates the community's heritage and creates a public space for everyone to enjoy.

A massive multi-colored mural taking up two side walls of the South County Courthouse visible from…read moreevery driver and pedestrian along Atlantic Ave. The mural is named after an old Delray newspaper and is created by Ralph Gilbert. The mural depicts people, history and industry. Surely one of the more vibrant landmarks in Delray Beach.

While walking through Delray Beach's Pineapple Grove Arts District, this brightly colored caught my…read moreattention immediately and I had to stop for a closer look. I love the beautiful colors and its tribute to Delray Beach's history has a major supplier of pineapples at the turn of the century. Delray Beach was once a center of pineapple cultivation. By the early 1900s, pineapples had become the city's primary crop, with trainloads of the fruit shipped north to markets across the country. Japanese farming pioneers of the Yamato Colony, including George Morikami, also cultivated pineapples in the area. By the mid-1910s and 1920s, however, drainage projects that lowered the water table, plant diseases, and increasing competition caused the once-thriving pineapple industry to decline. Although the pineapple fields are long gone, their legacy lives on in the name Pineapple Grove Arts District which was once a genuine pineapple grove and an important center for processing the fruit. Today the neighborhood is filled with boutiques, bistros, and galleries. In 2008, mural artist Anita Lovitt created the mural "Dancing Pineapples' on the east wall of the Chloe Building, now known as The Deb. For the next 13 years, anyone approaching the archway to Pineapple Grove on Northeast Second Avenue was greeted by the playful dancing pineapples, a symbol of hospitality and a warm welcome. In the summer of 2021, water damage required repairs to the building, including new stucco and windows. The work left gray patches on the wall, ruining the mural. A new replacement mural was commissioned by the artist Grabster, real name is Marcus Borges, a 40-year-old artist originally from Mineola, Long Island, who now lives in Fort Lauderdale. The name came from his teenage years immersed in New York's hip-hop culture. He is a Brazilian born, South Florida based street artist, muralist, and abstract graffiti writer known for his retro futuristic style, geometric designs, and tropical color schemes. He has collaborated with major brands like Red Bull, Formula 1, and OnlyFans. Lee Cohen, who owns and manages the building with his family. The proposal was approved by Delray Beach's Public Art Advisory Board on March 27 and the mural was paid for by the Cohen family. The new mural is thirty percent larger than the previous one and fills the entire 88 by 25 foot wall with colorful pineapples, palm trees, and seabirds. It took a week and half to complete the mural with some done by roller and the rest by freehand and spray paint. I love how the bold color choice captures the vibrant energy of Delray Beach. Although Dancing Pineapples is no more, Grabster has replaced the mural with something equally whimsical and captivating. It is a great addition to downtown Delray Beach. .

A monster pineapple mural at the corner of SE 2ND AVE and E Atlantic Ave as one of the most vibrant…read moreand visible piece of artwork in the Pineapple Grove arts district. This one was created by Marcus Borges in 2024 and is an unmatched behemoth at 35 x 75 feet. There are pineapples everywhere in this area of downtown Delray Beach including in the form of sculptures and statues but no doubt this wall mural is my most cherished.

While walking along the shoreline in Sunset Park in West Palm Beach, I discovered Sun Salutations,…read morepublic artwork created by artist Vito Di Bari in 2021.He has created art in 25 countries worldwide from interactive 23 foot installations to underwater coral artworks in the Gulf of Mexico. The sculpture was inspired by the official seal and logo of West Palm Beach. It was crafted from water-jet-cut, powder-coated aluminum and dichroic tempered glass to create a celebration of light, movement, renewal, and the natural beauty of South Florida. What makes this artwork special is its interactive design. The sculpture rotates completely on its own axis, continually changing its appearance as the light shifts throughout the day. Sunlight passes through the central glass medallion, catching and refracting the rays into colorful reflections. It is especially captivating at sunset when it showcases a beautiful harmony between art and nature.

I don't typically find public art inside a shopping mall, but that's one of the things that makes…read moreThe Gardens Mall so special. In fact, It is the only major shopping mall in Palm Beach County with commissioned artwork permanently displayed on site. While grabbing a drink in the food court, I couldn't help but notice the gorgeous mural wrapping around the upper walls near the ceiling. It tells the story of Florida's history, and if you've read any of my reviews, you know that's exactly the kind of thing that grabs my attention. Installed in 2007, the mural, The Story of Florida, was created by Chicago based artist Augustina Droze. Her portfolio includes public art commissions for The Forbes Company, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Tucson Pima Arts Council, and Nagpur International Airport, among many others. Speaking about the project, Droze said, "I'm an artist for the people, and what better place to find a good cross section of people than at a mall?" Touché! The mural was commissioned as part of the mall's multimillion dollar renovation, which was completed the following year. Taking more than nine months to create, it guides visitors through Florida's history, beginning with the Indigenous peoples and the arrival of the Spanish explorers. As the story unfolds, you'll also find scenes of the Everglades, Henry Flagler's railroad, early pioneers, and the rise of Florida's citrus industry. Every section is filled with colorful details. I really enjoyed taking my time to study all of the images while sipping my drink. Public art has been shown to enrich commercial spaces by creating memorable experiences that encourage people to linger and spend money. All I can definitely say is that the mural adds something special to a typical mall food court.

I have always loved this mysterious lady under the Harris bridge. A flower crown hovers above her…read morehead and her eyes gaze down as her hair dips into the water. You can best view her under the Lake Worth Bridge from the piers of the Snook Islands. It turns out this lady has a story and a name, Uhame which means spirit in Hawaiian. She was painted by Hawaiian artist Sean Yoro for the 2017 Canvas Art Festival. Yoro's art can be found all over the world. Many of his works blend humans and nature together. He has completed more than 50 murals, many on walls. He has even completed murals under water. His twin brother Kapu often documents his work. Yoro said that he was inspired to create Uhame by the City of Lake Worth itself. Lake Worth reminded him of Hawaii and he wanted the mural to reflect the peacefulness of the water and the nature of the city. I have always loved this piece and I am happy to finally know more about it.

I have always loved this pineapple sculpture in front of the South County Courthouse on Atlantic…read moreAvenue in Delray Beach. The Pineapple Bench is a hand painted ceramic mosaic created in 2007 by Miami based husband and wife artists Carlos Alves and JC Carroll. The couple has worked together for many years, creating public art from the initial concept and design through fabrication and installation. The project was funded through Palm Beach County's Art in Public Places program. The pineapple was chosen as the subject for Delray Beach because it was once a major pineapple growing center. By the early 1900s, pineapples had become the city's primary crop, with trainloads shipped north to markets across the country. Japanese farming pioneers of the Yamato Colony, including George Morikami, also cultivated pineapples in the area but by the mid 1910s and 1920s, however, drainage projects that lowered the water table, plant diseases, and increasing market competition caused the once thriving pineapple industry to decline. The crop's legacy lives on in the name of Delray Beach's Pineapple Grove Arts District which used to be where the pineapples were processed.. The Pineapple Bench is part of the Delray Beach Art Trail, a collection of murals, sculptures, galleries, and public installations created to showcase the city's creative spirit. Art lovers can explore the trail on a self-guided tour or join the evening First Friday Art Walk. What I especially like about this piece is its interactivity. This isn't art that you simply look at, you can actually sit on it. The bench combines artistic expression with a functional practicality. Its bright mosaic design has made it a local landmark and a fun photo spot while adding a little more color and character to Atlantic Avenue.

An absolutely beautiful pink two wall mural of pink flamingos in the Lakeside Centre next to the…read moreMarshalls store. Created by Irene Leon and Craig Miller in 2021 with a strong influence by South Florida's art deco pink. There are several white wooden chairs and a dominoes table making it feel like a Miami Beach vibe. Similar to a pocket park to relax and take in the views.

This little enclave with a bunch of chairs in the grass is a cute spot to take a break from…read moreshopping at Marshals and Homegoods with my daughter. The pink flamingos adds a nice touch to the center of an old plaza. Im starting to see a trend of these displays of public art in shopping centers and malls.