FAB Member Event: NSU Art Museum Presents: Surrounded Islands

NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale has been designated the permanent home of Surrounded Islands, the iconic 1983 environmental artwork by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Beginning in February 2025, the museum will present a major exhibition featuring more than 43 preparatory drawings and collages, along with photographs, engineering plans, permits, original materials (including sections of the signature pink fabric), and archival documents that reveal the full creative process behind the project.

This significant gift from the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation positions the museum among leading global institutions that house major works by the artists, reinforcing Fort Lauderdale’s status as an international arts destination. The installation itself—11 islands in Biscayne Bay encircled by 6.5 million square feet of pink floating fabric—lasted just two weeks in May 1983 but required years of planning, environmental coordination, and private funding by the artists.

Now preserved through this comprehensive archive, Surrounded Islands continues to inspire new generations, offering insight into the artists’ groundbreaking approach to large-scale, temporary public art and its lasting cultural impact on South Florida and beyond.

Following the tour, guests are invited to enjoy lunch at the Museum Café (optional, not included), offering a selection of sandwiches, salads, and refreshments in a relaxed setting. CLICK HERE for a preview of the Museum Café menu.

Where:
NSU Art Museum
One East Las Olas Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
When:
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 11:30 am
Cost: 
FREE Member Event
Tickets:
CLICK HERE to register or email Info@FundingArtsBroward.org for more registration information.