Argentina’s artist, curator and cultural manager Ximena Caminos is a firm believer in the transforming power of art. For her, art not only transmits beauty: it can also preserve it. Based in Miami Beach for more than a decade, his most recent work –The Reefline– It is a testimony of how creativity, science and activism can converge in a common mission: protect the planet.
The Reefline It is a pioneering project that combines contemporary art, marine conservation and sustainable design. Its objective is to restore an essential section of Florida Reef Tract – the third largest coral reef system in the world – to promote marine biodiversity, protect the coastline against erosion and increased sea level, and educate the public about oceanic conservation through an ecological sculpture submarine park.
This underwater museum will extend over 11 kilometers off the coast of Miami, just 300 meters from the shore, where it will be visible from the mainland. In addition to being an attraction for snorkeling divers and lovers, it will work as an artificial reef that will relive an ecosystem that was previously suffocated.
A symphony of art, science and architecture
The project is led by Caminos, who coordinates an interdisciplinary team that includes marine biologists, coastal engineers and international artists. The OMA architecture study, led by Shigematsu Shigematsu, is in charge of the integral design of the park.
The first phase of the project, scheduled to start in the spring of 2025, includes the installation of Coral concretea work by Leandro Erlich. It is a submerged recreation of its installation Order of Importance (2019), a traffic jam formed by 22 concrete cars, ready to be colonized by marine life. It is a powerful metaphor of how to transform the negative effects of human development into new life opportunities.
Other outstanding pieces include Miami Reef Star by Carlos Betancourt and Alberto Latorre, a 90 -foot sculpture composed of 3D -printed star modules that serve as hybrid marine habitats; Heart of Okeansby Petroc Sesti, a sculpture that emulates the heart of a blue whale; and geometric modules designed by OMA that will work as living breakwater and connectors between the different artistic facilities.
Advanced technologies such as Sustainable Concrete Carbonxinc and the LOK choral device, which accelerates coral regeneration, are part of the project. So, The Reefline Not only does it offer an unprecedented artistic experience, but also a tangible solution for ecological restoration.
“The objective is to make a kind of ‘marine acupuncture’ to mitigate the effects of climate change while the community is educated about the importance of preserving the oceans,” explains roads. The project, financed with 5 million dollars by the city of Miami Beach, is developed by the Bluelab Preservation Society organization.
A blue prize for committed art
In June 2025, during the prestigious Hydra Week In Greece – a event that brought together figures such as Jeff Koons, Maurizio Cattelan and Lisa Phillips – Caminos announced the launch of the launch of the Blue Arts Awardan initiative that summons artists from all over the world to create underwater sculptures that work as artificial reef.
“The disappearance of sea sponges in Hydra is a silent warning of what we can lose. I believe in the power of art to awaken consciences and inspire actions that protect our seas,” roads said during launch.
With András’s strategic advice, the jury of the award will be composed of international renowned curators. The fifteen nominators will invite artists whose work explores climate and ecological justice. In December 2025, during the Miami Art Week, up to five finalists will be announced. Each will receive a USD 2,000 honorary and participate in an immersive program in Miami Beach with research activities, coral workshops and scientific visits. The winner will receive USD 25,000 and up to USD 300,000 to produce and install his work in 2027 as part of phase 3 of The Reefline.
“With the Blue Arts Award We invite artists to dream on the ocean scale. This initiative deepens our mission of intertwining culture and conservation: giving life to sculptures that move us and, at the same time, regenerate marine ecosystems, ”says Ximena Caminos, in a context where climate change demands urgent responses and demonstrating that art can be more than contemplation: it can be action. The Reefline It is proof of this, and represents a new way of thinking about the link between creativity, nature and future.
Image gallery
