Water Columns

Xavier Cortada’s Water Columns was dedicated in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, on Xavier Cortada Day, February 18, 2025, as the city’s first public art master plan commission. The installation features seven hand-sculpted bas-relief ceramic columns arranged in a spiral, each depicting a species from a distinct marine region—from the shoreline to the deep-sea Blake Plateau. The sculptures form a gradient of blue hues, mirroring the ocean’s depth and biodiversity.

To deepen its impact, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Cortada Foundation developed an interactive educational component, inviting the community to engage with the artwork and explore the vital role of marine conservation. Water Columns stands as a call to action, inspiring stewardship and raising awareness of the fragile ecosystems that lie just beyond our shores.