Gator in the Bay
Charo was proud to support Gator in the Bay, a monumental floating art installation that made waves at Art Basel Miami. Working closely with the creative team, she designed custom event T-shirts that captured the project’s bold spirit and artistic energy. The shirts became a wearable extension of the installation itself, celebrating the fusion of art, imagination, and community that defined this unforgettable public art experience for the City of Miami.
Beyond design, our collaboration reflected a shared passion for creativity on a grand scale. The Gator in the Bay project pushed the boundaries of public art, and Charo’s contribution helped translate that vision into tangible, everyday design. Through thoughtful color, composition, and storytelling, we brought the same sense of wonder from the water to the crowd.
01
The inspiration for the Gator in the Bay T-shirt came directly from the incredible scale and imagination behind the installation itself which was a 275-foot floating alligator created for Art Basel Miami Beach. Designed to raise awareness for the Everglades, the massive sculpture stretched across Biscayne Bay like a moving piece of architecture. Its mosaic-covered tiles, sculpted metalwork, and sheer size inspired a design that felt bold, fluid, and alive, just like the gator gliding through the water.
02
Behind the artwork’s beauty was an impressive feat of engineering. The alligator’s 90-foot head alone weighed nearly 30,000 pounds and contained an excavator mechanism that opened and closed its jaws. That mix of creativity and construction guided the T-shirt’s graphic approach. Subtle grid lines and layered typography hinted at the project’s internal framework, paying tribute to how art and engineering worked hand in hand to bring the gator to life.
03
The color palette drew from the environment that inspired it all. The deep swamp greens reflected Florida’s wetlands and the shimmering surface of the bay. Just like the installation’s thousands of digital image tiles, the shirt’s patterns echoed movement and reflection. The result was more than event merchandise. The Tees became a wearable symbol of vision, craftsmanship, and the powerful connection between art, nature, and community.
