Brazilian artist Ernesto Kunde won the company’s Call to Artists contest, which was a collaboration with The Nader Museum. The initiative called on all southern Florida artists to submit original artwork to be considered for a massive mural.
Each year, the program resets and a new mural design is chosen, allowing Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and The Nader Museum to continue supporting South Florida artists for years to come.
The multi-story masterpiece is inspired by Miami’s mangroves and is visible to all passengers on Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2021-built cruise terminal at PortMiami.
Kunde becomes the first winner of the contest, securing a 10-day, $100,000 artist residency at the Artist Loft on Oceania Cruises and the honor of having his work displayed at the terminal for a year.
“Winning this opportunity has provided me the chance to share my vision with the world, and I am very honored to have my work featured on such a breathtaking canvas,” said Kunde. “Growing up in south Brazil and now living in Miami, landscapes and ecosystems continue to be important and influential in my life. South Florida is home to hundreds of native plants, and I wanted this mural to capture their natural beauty.”
The terminal is over 166,000 square feet and can accommodate ships of up to 5,000 passengers. The structure’s design was inspired by the Fibonacci nautilus, with a spiraled and multi-level façade, providing vast views of the water. Recently, the building became the world’s first cruise terminal to earn LEED Gold v4 Certification.
Gary Nader, founder of The Nader Museum and co-creator of the Call to Artists contest, said “Promoting and encouraging local artists should be a priority of everyone in our community; art is what brings us together and what will bring important tourism to our beloved city of Miami. This is a significant award, and I congratulate NCLH for not only making this initiative available to artists, but for providing enjoyment to the millions of people that visit us.”
Details on the second annual Call to Artists will be announced later this year.
