Recycled Material Art Project

Recycled Art Sculpture REcycled Reef

The City unveiled this Art in Public Places project, REcycled REef, on Friday, March 18 at 8:30am at South Beach Park, near the entrance at Palmetto Park Road. Members of the public joined the sculpture's artist, Gregory Dirr, City Council and staff, 4Ocean, and other community partners for the unveiling of the art piece. The unveiling was followed by a beach cleanup where the community gathered to pick up trash, plastic, and other materials. 

"The recycled material art project is a great way for our residents and visitors to learn about the impact of plastic in the environment, make informed decisions on how they use plastic in their daily lives, and to be mindful of the items they bring to our beautiful beaches,”  said Lindsey Roland Nieratka, the City’s Sustainability Manager. 

For more information on the City’s sustainability efforts, visit City of Boca Raton’s Office of Sustainability, and Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. 

Meet the Artist!


Project Overview

The City’s latest Art in Public Places project was envisioned to bring more public art to the City and to encourage creative ways to repurpose, recycle, and conserve. The project also aims to educate the community about the harmful effects of pollution and plastics on marine life and inspire sustainable actions through an aesthetically pleasing artistic creation.

Design Concept

Local artist Gregory Dirr was selected to create the artwork. Nature has long been a major theme in his artwork, and every piece Gregory creates includes recycled materials. Gregory graduated from the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, and his artwork has been featured in many solo and group exhibitions and in cities across South Florida and beyond. His previous mural work for the City of Boca Raton can be seen on the Spanish River Park beach tunnels, which debuted in 2019.  Artist Gregory Dirr and Recycled Material Art Project concept

Gregory’s design, REcycled REef, features an oversized coral reef, with a contemporary spin. The core structure is made using recycled metal rebar, wire mesh, and concrete.  Discarded plastics are attached with concrete mortar, covering the entire surface like a mosaic.  Gregory personally collected all plastics used in the project from various beaches.   The collected pieces were treated to prevent deterioration and then primed and painted with UV coating. 

Artist Gregory Dirr and Proposed Project Design