City of West Palm Beach unveils large-scale public art installation by José Alvarez at Mandel Public Library transforming shared space into immersive experience

West Palm Beach, Florida – A bold new wave of color has taken over a familiar public space in West Palm Beach, where art now stretches far beyond traditional frames and walls. City officials have unveiled a large-scale installation by multidisciplinary artist José Alvarez at Mandel Public Library, marking a significant moment for public art in the community.

Titled Surround Me with Your Love (May All Beings Be Happy and Free), the 2026 installation is now open to visitors inside The Urban, a space within the library that has been completely transformed. What was once a functional, everyday area has been reimagined into something immersive—an environment where color, pattern, and movement surround visitors from floor to ceiling.

The project arrives through the city’s Art in Public Places program, an initiative focused on bringing creative expression into shared environments. In this case, the result is both striking and inviting. Alvarez’s work fills the room with vibrant tones—pinks, blues, greens, yellows, and oranges—layered into a sweeping composition of floral shapes and geometric designs. There is no single focal point. Instead, the entire space becomes the artwork, encouraging visitors to move, pause, and take it in from different angles.

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For Alvarez, whose full name is Deyvi Orangel Peña Arteaga, the installation represents a new chapter. Known for blending science, spirituality, and elements of mysticism, he has spent decades developing a visual language that connects inner reflection with broader human themes. This is his first monumental public installation, and it brings that deeply personal style into a shared civic setting.

The experience inside The Urban is meant to feel open and fluid. Repeating patterns create a rhythm that draws the eye across surfaces, while the layering of color gives a sense of depth and motion. Visitors may find themselves noticing something new each time they shift perspective—a detail tucked into a corner, or a shape that seems to emerge from the background.

City leaders say the installation highlights the power of public art to reshape how people interact with everyday spaces. “What is significant within the medium of public art is the ability for an artist to translate their artistic practice into public realm,” said Sybille Canthal, Director of Arts, Culture and Community Building. “This translation of an artist’s oeuvre can be experienced through José Alvarez’s vibrant installation at The Urban, which exemplifies the profound impact of art in public space from an artist with a decades long practice.”

The exhibition is expected to remain in place through Spring 2028, giving residents and visitors ample time to experience it. Access follows the regular hours of the Mandel Public Library, with availability throughout the week, including weekends. This accessibility is part of the broader goal—to make art something that people encounter naturally, not something reserved for formal galleries.

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Behind the scenes, the Art in Public Places program continues to play a central role in shaping the city’s cultural landscape. By supporting projects like this one, the program encourages artists to engage directly with the public, turning shared spaces into platforms for creativity and dialogue.

Those interested in learning more about the installation can also explore a digital guide available through the Bloomberg Connects app. The guide includes audio commentary from Alvarez himself, offered in both English and Spanish, providing additional insight into the ideas and inspirations behind the work.

For now, the installation stands as a vivid reminder of how art can shift perception. In a place usually associated with quiet reading and routine visits, something unexpected has emerged—color spilling across surfaces, patterns unfolding in every direction, and a message, subtle but persistent, inviting visitors to slow down, look closer, and simply experience.