Art that Tells Our Story: Discover Gulf Breeze’s Signature Public Art Collection
To celebrate Gulf Breeze’s 50th anniversary, the City commissioned a series of five signature public art pieces, each representing a decade of community history, installed between 2011 and 2026. This initiative has since inspired additional public art installations throughout the city.
Led by the Gulf Breeze Art Committee under the direction of Dr. Steve Zieman, this privately funded effort brings art into everyday spaces—creating meaningful landmarks that reflect the spirit, resilience, and identity of Gulf Breeze.
Signature Series
Five pieces, listed in order of installation:
Fuego
Installed: 2012
Artist: Kevin Marchetti
Location: Mariners Landing (east side of the General “Chappie” James Bridge)
Medium: Illuminated metal
“Fuego,” meaning “fire,” captures the cycle of destruction and renewal experienced through local natural disasters. Illuminated at night, the sculpture stands as a powerful symbol of resilience and rebirth.
Starlight
Installed: 2012
Artists: Lou Mitchell Courtney, and Kevin Marchetti (Renaissance Fabrication)
Location: Woodland Park
Medium: Illuminated metal
“Starlight” transforms Woodland Park after dark, casting a dynamic kaleidoscope of light across the treetops. The piece invites visitors to experience art, nature, and light in motion.
Gulf Breeze Arch
Installed: November 10, 2013
Artists: Peter King and Xinia Marin
Location: Shoreline Park South (across from the Community Center)
Medium: Ceramic
The Gulf Breeze Arch serves as a visual gateway to the City, reflecting its history, culture, and coastal character through vibrant ceramic design.
Rising 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide, the structure was crafted using more than 2,000 pounds of clay. Its detailed surfaces tell the story of Gulf Breeze—depicting the Naval Live Oaks and early shipbuilding on one side, and a nesting sea turtle alongside references to the historic Allan Davis Seashell Shop on the other.
Artists Peter King, founder of Stonehaus Pottery Gallery in Pensacola, and Xinia Marin, a former ceramics professor at the University of Costa Rica, have created public art in cities across the Americas—from Vancouver to São Paulo.
Triple Up
Installed: June 26, 2018
Artist: Michael Boles
Location: Memorial Park (near the Bob Sikes Bridge)
Medium: Metal
Featuring three upward forms, “Triple Up” represents family, community, and forward momentum—core values that continue to shape Gulf Breeze’s future.
Mariner
Installed: May 4, 2026
Artist: Randy New
Location: Mariners Landing Park (near the General “Chappie” James Bridge)
Medium: Metal
“Mariner” draws inspiration from the interlocking chains of maritime vessels, symbolizing Gulf Breeze’s deep connection to the water and its coastal heritage. As the final installation in the series, it completes the story of a community tied together by place and purpose.
Additional Public Sculptural Art around the Breeze
Jubilee!
Installed: November 19, 2020
Artists: Lou Mitchell Courtney and Kevin Marchetti
Fabrication: Renaissance Fabrication (Cleland Weller, Brad Fox, Mike Briggs)
Location: Near Home2 Suites, Sea Shell Collections (850 Gulf Breeze Parkway)
Medium: Powder-coated aluminum and copper
“Jubilee!” features clean, minimalist lines forming three abstract fish with copper tails. The work reflects themes of celebration, hope, justice, and joyful service.
City Seal Medallion
Installed: January 2020
Artist: Fluid Metal Works Design
Location: Daniel Drive roundabout
Medium: Metal
This large city seal medallion was installed in honor of Gulf Breeze’s 29th year as a Tree City USA community, celebrating the City’s long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship.
