KEY LARGO, FLA. – Master ceramist and public artist Sonata Kazimieraitiene to celebrate the completion of “Textures of the Tide” at the Ocean Exploration Center. Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) will debut a new collaborative installation in The Ocean Inspires rotating exhibit at the REEF Ocean Exploration Center for Marine Conservation and invite the community to celebrate at an upcoming artist reception.
On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, from 6:30–7:30 p.m. EST, REEF and project partner Upper Keys Business Professional Women (Upper Keys BPW) will host an Ocean After Hours artist reception with Sonata Kazimieraitiene (Sonata Mosaics) at the REEF Ocean Exploration Center, 98380 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037. Admission is free, and no registration is required.
Event details: www.REEF.org/events/ocean-after-hours-artist-reception-sonata-sonata-mosaics
The reception celebrates the completion and unveiling of “Textures of the Tide”, a glazed ceramic, natural elements, and glass mosaic created through a community art process guided by Kazimieraitiene. The installation brings together colorful sea creatures hand-sculpted from clay by Ocean Exploration Center visitors, assembled into a cohesive underwater ecosystem and framed by geometric glass tiles—inviting visitors to explore the textures, shapes, and surfaces inspired by coral reef life.
“Textures of the Tide” will be on view in The Ocean Inspires exhibit area from February 3, 2026 (launch event) through August 2, 2026.
More exhibit information: www.REEF.org/art-installations
This event also marks the wrap-up of The Ocean Inspires inaugural featured exhibition with Beatriz Chachamovits, whose work explores the intersection of marine ecology, mythology, and material transformation—prompting reflection on the fragility of marine ecosystems and our evolving relationship with the natural world.
Supporting Media
A selection of supporting images can be found here. These images are released for single use only to support this press release. Additional usage must be approved in writing by REEF. All images must be credited using the file name title.
About the Artist: Sonata Kazimieraitiene
Based in Florida, Kazimieraitiene is an internationally recognized master ceramist and public artist known for community-engaged, large-scale creative placemaking. Her mosaics often blend hand-sculpted ceramics, natural materials, and glass, and her process invites the public to participate—creating work that reflects the people and places connected to it.
More information about the Sonata Kazimieraitiene can be found here.
About The Ocean Inspires at the REEF Ocean Exploration Center
The Ocean Inspires is a rotating art and humanities exhibit situated within the Ocean Exploration Center’s “Being Human on an Ocean Planet” area. The exhibit connects art, science, and conservation—encouraging visitors to explore their personal connection to the ocean, reflect on shifting seas and climate impacts, and engage through interactive elements such as talk-back boards and reflective spaces.
Opened in June 2025, the REEF Ocean Exploration Center for Marine Conservation is a free, public education and visitor center designed to inspire curiosity and deepen connection to our blue planet.
Acknowledgments
Support for this community art project is provided in part by the Florida Keys Council of the Arts, the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and private donations.
About REEF
REEF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1990 to protect biodiversity and ocean life by actively engaging and inspiring the public through citizen science, education, and partnerships with the scientific community.