Sinta Tantra’s Petals of the Moon brings new public art to southern West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach, Florida – Two steel sculptural forms now stand at The Sound, 8111 S. Dixie Highway, as a new addition to West Palm Beach’s public art collection. Created by internationally known artist Sinta Tantra, Petals of the Moon draws on the area’s agricultural history and waterways.

The installation was announced October 14 through the city’s Art in Public Places program. A partnership between the program and Woodfield-Flagler Venture brought the site-specific commission to the city’s southern gateway.

“The City of West Palm Beach is committed to creating a vibrant public realm where art, culture, and community come together,” said West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James. “Petals of the Moon is a wonderful example of what we can accomplish when the public and private sectors work together toward a shared vision. Through this partnership, we are bringing art into the everyday lives of our residents and visitors while enhancing the character and cultural identity of our City.”

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Tantra, a London-based British artist of Balinese descent, was chosen through a competitive selection process. The commission takes her work beyond painted surfaces, translating her interest in color, architecture, and landscape into a large-scale, three-dimensional installation.

The two organic forms are made of steel and secured to reinforced concrete foundations hidden below ground. With those supports concealed, the sculptures appear to balance on the surface.

Positioned parallel to Stub Canal, the forms reflect sunlight and water. Their placement connects the artwork to the surrounding environment, while their inspiration reaches back to the cultivation and waterways that helped shape the area.

Tantra said she took “inspiration from the history of pineapple cultivation and the waterways that shaped the area. Together they become a gesture of optimism and offering, connecting the earth beneath us with the sky and water that surround us.”

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The work brings those historical and environmental references into the present-day landscape. Its use of color and form continues Tantra’s exploration of how an artwork relates to the architecture and spaces around it.

“Public art has the power to transform the way we experience our city, creating moments of discovery and reflection,” states Sybille Canthal, Director of Arts, Culture and Community Building. “Petals of the Moon brings that experience to the south end through Sinta Tantra’s thoughtful response to our agricultural and waterways history.”

Although the installation is already in place, its public commemoration is scheduled for December 2026, coinciding with the opening of The Sound.

Residents and visitors can explore the city’s Art in Public Places program through its free Bloomberg Connects digital guide. The guide includes audio commentary from Tantra, available in English and Spanish, offering another way to learn about the work.

Additional details appear in the city’s announcement. For more information, contact Canthal at [email protected] or (561) 822-1521. Updates about the city and its public art program are also available on Instagram through @WPBAiPP and @TheCityOfWPB.