Pompano Beach Cultural Center Unveils Floripalmae (FLOR-ih-PAHL-may)

"Floripalmae is much more than an entrance mural—it is a powerful welcome to everyone who visits the Pompano Beach Cultural Center," said Ty Tabing, Cultural Affairs Director for the City of Pompano Beach. "David Eaton has created a work that beautifully captures the vitality of South Florida's natural landscape while expressing the energy, creativity, and growth that define our community. As visitors approach the Cultural Center, they'll experience an artwork that evolves with perspective, inviting them to see the extraordinary patterns found in nature up close and from a distance; while reminding us that art has the power to connect people to place. We are proud to add this remarkable installation to our growing collection of public art and to continue strengthening Pompano Beach's reputation as a vibrant cultural destination.”

Designed specifically for the Cultural Center, Floripalmae is a monumental sculptural mural fabricated from 1/8-inch epoxy-painted aluminum in six colors, with riveted and anchored construction engineered for durability, longevity, and resilience.

The title Floripalmae derives from Latin, combining flos, floris, meaning flower, bloom, or blossom, with palmae, the plural or possessive form of palma, meaning palm tree while also symbolizing victory, peace, and the open hand. Together, the name evokes a surreal, Edenic landscape—an elegant, lush hybrid species that is feminine, vibrant, and alive with bloom.

Inspired by South Florida's distinctive flora and fauna, Floripalmae explores the concept of emergent order in natural systems—how simple rules generate dynamic, complex forms. Through an intricate geometric composition, the artwork evokes a palm grove in bloom, unfolding through layered shapes that symbolize growth, movement, energy, and a deep connection to place. Three primary color groupings reflect the City of Pompano Beach's branding palette, while a fourth green is represented by the surrounding landscape itself, completing the visual identity. As the mural ascends, its filigree becomes increasingly delicate and ephemeral, creating a dramatic fading effect through forced perspective.

Engineered for both beauty and resilience, Floripalmae features three structural layers that provide redundancy and storm resistance. Approximately 30 standard 4-foot by 8-foot aluminum sheets were used to fabricate the sculpture, with individual components riveted together and labeled by location, layer, and color before being pre-assembled in Seattle and shipped to Florida.

The installation has been designed for efficiency, with panelized sections that slot together and attach to the building façade using structural anchors or adhesive systems. Using a scissor lift or scaffolding, installation is expected to be completed within several days.

About the Artist

David Eaton is the Founder of Partwise Design and Art, a multidisciplinary practice that merges art, architecture, engineering, computation, and fabrication to create innovative public art inspired by the structural intelligence of nature. His work explores how complex forms emerge from simple systems, transforming natural patterns into immersive civic landmarks.

"With Floripalmae*, I wanted to create a work that feels as though it has grown from the landscape itself," said David Eaton. "The sculpture is inspired by the remarkable flora and fauna of South Florida and by the idea that simple patterns in nature can give rise to extraordinary complexity. As visitors move toward the Cultural Center, the composition continually changes, revealing new relationships between form, color, and light. My hope is that the artwork invites people to pause, look more closely, and experience the beauty, energy, and interconnectedness that exist all around us."*

Throughout his career, Eaton has collaborated on internationally recognized cultural and architectural projects with some of the industry's leading designers. At THEVERYMANY, he helped develop groundbreaking public art installations, including The Chrysalis, the community-funded annex amphitheater at Frank Gehry's Merriweather Post Pavilion. He also served as Geometry Specialist in the New York office of Santiago Calatrava, contributing to the UAE Pavilion at Expo Dubai and other public art initiatives, and later led Geometry and Computation for the visionary Amazon Helix project at NBBJ Architects.

Through Partwise Design and Art, Eaton continues to create sculptural works that unite advanced fabrication techniques with the beauty and efficiency found in nature, producing memorable public spaces that inspire connection, discovery, and wonder.

Floripalmae Unveiling & Dedication

Monday, August 3rd, 2026

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Pompano Beach Cultural Center

Front Entrance

50 West Atlantic Boulevard

Pompano Beach, Florida 33060

The public is invited to attend this special unveiling celebrating the addition of Floripalmae to the City's growing public art collection. The monumental artwork reflects the beauty, resilience, and natural character of South Florida while welcoming visitors to one of the region's premier cultural destinations.

About Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department

The mission of the Cultural Affairs Department, operating as Pompano Beach Arts, is to provide cultural programming that includes visual arts, digital media, music, film, theater, dance, and public art for the enjoyment and enrichment of residents and visitors to Pompano Beach, Broward County, and the greater South Florida area. The department programs and manages the City’s premiere cultural arts venues, including the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, Ali Cultural Arts Center, Bailey Contemporary Arts Center, and the Blanche Ely House Museum. The department also oversees the City’s Public Art Program and the Artists in Residence (AiR) initiative.