Coral Conscience

A luminous coral form bleaches white in response to human presence, revealing the often-unseen effects of climate change and human activity on coral reefs.

The work is inspired by snorkeling among the vibrant reefs of the Virgin Islands as a teenager, then returning as an adult to find them drastically diminished and nearly entirely bleached.

By lifting coral, an animal often mistaken for part of the landscape, out of the sea and placing it on display, the artwork highlights the fragility of reef ecosystems and our power to either contribute to their destruction or support their recovery.