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Artist’s Corner

Discover how the culture of South Beach and the streets of Miami comes to life at the Miami Marathon.

Every year we invite a Miami-based artist to help design the medal neck ribbon for the Life Time Miami Marathon & Half Marathon, Life Time Tropical 5K and Life Time Kids Run Miami races. Learn more about each artist and view their creations below.

2024 | Nicolas Vásquez

Nicolas Vásquez is a Miami resident with Colombian roots, infusing his art with the vibrant energy of both worlds. As a multidisciplinary artist and designer, his creative journey is enriched by his background in architecture. Nicolas draws inspiration from nature, architecture, and the human experience.

Vásquez navigates between the digital realm of 3D art and the tactile world of traditional painting. This duality of mediums allows him to explore and represent his diverse influences in unique and captivating ways.

In addition to his individual work, Nicolas Vasquez is a co-founder of Vaco Studio, a creative hub that fosters collaboration and innovation among artists and designers. Through his art and his collaborative efforts, Nicolas seeks to connect with and inspire others, inviting them to explore the profound interplay between art, nature, architecture, and humanity.

Design Inspiration

“The medal band designs were inspired by Miami’s lush array of plant life powered by our city’s year-round tropical climate. I wanted to create a motif of 3D plant designs showcasing some of these plants with their intricate forms. I sought to capture the essence of Miami’s biodiversity by infusing the designs with an organic and vibrant energy, reflecting the life that surrounds the runners. Our city is known for its distinctive and captivating color palette, a harmonious blend of bright hues and smooth gradients. From the blues of the ocean to the pinks of a sunset, our bands celebrate the diverse colors that define the city. The shadows cast by the plant motifs on the bands interact with the sun shaped medal creating an illusion of a sunrise. We overlaid different parts of the map with race and mile markers on the bands, this offers runners a visual overview of the route they conquered as a reminder of their incredible journey through the heart of Miami.” – Nic

2023 | Luis Valle

Internationally acclaimed artist Luis Valle aka El Chan Guri, was born April 16, 1977 in Managua, Nicaragua. At 2 years old his family exiled to the United States and re-located to Miami, Florida where he made his home. Growing up in Miami Luis excelled in the arts from an early age. In his teenage years Valle got his first taste of art on the streets doing graffiti under the moniker “GEARS”. He later went on to receive formal training from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida where he graduated with a BFA in Visual Arts. A few years later in 2001 he moved to New York City and received a Masters in Arts Degree from New York University.

Valle grew an affinity for New York, especially Brooklyn, but in 2006 the ever-growing Miami art scene especially in the Wynwood Arts District brought Luis back to where he grew up. Valle immersed himself in the local scene working closely with the community and organizations such as Arts For Learning Miami, the Miami children’s Museum, The Miami Dade Library Systems, Boys and Girls Club of Miami, The Overtown Youth Center, Dade County Public Schools, The Art Experience, Giants in the City and Irreversible Projects to name a few.

Valle has been an artist intertwined with the explosion of the art in Miami, especially in the mural, graffiti and street art scene of Wynwood. For the last decade, Luis has dedicated a large part of his work to the public art spectrum. His work can be seen throughout South Florida, in various cities across the United States, and many countries including: Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, China, and India. His style can be easily recognized, as it is a blend of influences from indigenous cultures, psychology, shamanism, religion, spirituality, frequency, vibration and energy. You can find his work all over the streets of Miami, featured in many local establishments such as restaurants, bars, local schools and businesses, as well as adorning the walls of various local shopping centers such as Sunset Place, Midtown Shops, Aventura Mall and City Place Doral.

Design Inspiration

As well as an artist, Luis also grew up an athlete playing sports in Miami. He was ecstatic when given the opportunity to create the ribbon design for the 2023 Life Time Miami Marathon & Half medal. Paying homage to his beloved city, Valle chose to include aspects of nature, its sea life, cityscape and gorgeous skies. His goal was to create something beautiful that would remind the participants of the city where they ran their race.

2022 | Custom Artist Compilation

Each year beginning in 2012, the Life Time Miami Marathon & Half medal neck ribbon has featured custom designs from a variety of inspirational and influential Miami-based artists. Holding to tradition, the 2022 neck ribbon pays tribute to these custom designs, featuring all creations since 2012.

2021| VACO Studio x SendIt4TheSea

Complementing our medal design celebrating the conservation efforts of Miami’s coastal waters and reefs, these distance-specific neck ribbons feature 3 different local ecosystems. The natural color gradient and clean lines take a fresh and minimalistic approach to appreciate South Florida’s prominent marine ecosystems.
Coral Reefs – Marathon
Seagrass Beds – Half Marathon
Mangroves – Tropical 5K
For each distance you complete, you will earn the corresponding neck ribbon to accompany your medal.
#NotMiamiWithoutYou

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Inspiration

Coral Reef (MARATHON)

Coral reefs are the the anchors of the ocean. They are the most complex ecosystem on the planet. Thousands of organisms co-exist, working towards the same goal. Everyone has a role to play towards a larger image. Coral reefs around the world are facing coral bleaching, a process caused by increasing water temperatures. Locally, coral reefs have had a hard time dealing with port expansions, water pollution, and increasing temperatures.

Seagrass Beds (HALF)

Like mangroves, seagrass plays an important role in biscayne bays ecosystem. They produce oxygen that supports life under the water. Smaller fish and other Marine animals that grow out of the mangroves make their way into the seagrass beds once they reach a certain size. It’s essentially the next step in life with in the bay. Seagrass beds are also essential to mitigating climate change. They can sequester 3 times more carbon out of the air compared to any other terrestrial tree. Locally, seagrass beds have been under tremendous stress from water pollution, coastal development, and lack of regulations on the water. 90% of the seagrass beds in North Biscayne bay have completely died with in the last 10 years.

Mangrove Forrest – (5k)

Mangroves are a staple of Biscayne Bay, they are essentially the nursery for the marine life in our oceans. We decided to go with this for the 5k because is almost the same relationship in terms of running events. People are introduced to the running community through 5k races, it’s the nursery for Lifetime. Mangroves hold down Miami during hurricanes, preventing storm surge and wave action from damaging the shorelines! Without them south Florida would be full of concrete, not vegetation.

Now bringing all the designs together, they create a gradient composite, showing the connection between the 3 ecosystems. We want to give people something that sparks interest visually through natural patterns and shapes.

2020 | Peter Tunney

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“It’s always a genuine honor and real challenge to be asked to create something special, I never like to say no! For this project I love the words MIAMI AND FAMOUS – Miami is like a person – a person with a robust and colorful personality – and she’s FAMOUS – on a global scale MIAMI IS FAMOUS – and for so many things to so many different people – from beaches to nightlife – to meditation – to water sports to – world class cuisine and of course the astounding KALEIDOSCOPIC population that lives and visits her – I too love Miami for all these things and more and I relish any chance I have to participate and express these qualities – This life is indeed a marathon and I have so much respect for all those that participate and endure the ups and downs of the pavement and of the road of life – Kudos to all the participants and it fills me with pride to be involved in my small way – rock on! With love and gratitude” – Peter Tunney

Learn more about Peter Tunney

2019 | Rigo Leon

Rigeo Leon

Rigo Leon is a Cuban artist residing in Miami. His vision is to leave a positive imprint on the planet through his art. Rigo’s paper boat concept, which is seen on the flamingo’s head in the ribbon, brings attention to the idea of building a better life and achieving one’s goals through change and dedication.

The meaning and inspiration of the medal neck ribbon (pictured right) is based on the vibrant colors of Miami, its culture, the folklore of its people, and the music that flows around anyone who visits this beautiful Caribbean-influenced city that is home to many dreamers wanting to build a better future.

El significado e inspiración es basado en los colores vibrantes de miami, el forcklor de su gente, cultura y música que contagia a cualquiera que visita esta hermosa ciudad caribeña  hogar de muchos soñadores dispuestos a construir un futuro mejor.

Description above provided by Rigo Leon Herrera.

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2018 | BERNARD ZYSCOVICH

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Founder and CEO of the Miami-based firm – Zyscovich Architects – Bernard Zyscovich, FAIA, is an award-winning architect and published author who is an industry-wide subject matter expert on architecture, urban design, interior design and master planning.

With a passion to produce impact through ideas, aesthetic expression and technological innovation, Zyscovich’s firm, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary Making People Places in 2017, incorporates character, flavor and vision into each of their designs while reinforcing socio-economic, cultural and recreational possibilities.

The medal neck ribbon design was born from how Miami has developed its identity over time to be the vibrant, active and dynamic personality it currently embodies. The city is in a constant state of change and progresses over time, much like how our runners progress closer to the finish line on their journey through the city. The design portrays the structure of Miami along with the iconic trademarks representing the vitality of the city.

We are excited to share Zyscovich’s inspiring design through our 2018 Miami Marathon & Half Marathon, Tropical 5K and Kids Run Miami medal neck ribbons!

2017 | XAVIER CORTADA

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Xavier Cortada serves as Artist-in-Residence at FIU School of Environment, Arts and Society | College of Arts, Sciences & Education and the College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts.  He has created environmental installations (North Pole and South Pole) and eco-art (Taiwan, Hawaii and Holland) projects, and painted community murals addressing peace (Cyprus and Northern Ireland), child welfare  (Bolivia and Panama), AIDS (Switzerland and South Africa) and juvenile justice (Miami and Philadelphia) concerns. Locally, Cortada has created public art for the Miami City Hall, the Frost Art Museum, Florida’s Turnpike, Port Everglades and several public housing sites.

“The mangrove roots symbolize the residents who have set roots in their neighborhood and built community,” said Cortada. “[B]y reaching out to others, we build a stronger community, much like the walking feet of mangrove roots do to build formidable structures and nurture new life.”

2016 | JENNY PEREZ

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Jenny Perez is a culturally-influenced, female-empowering, visual pop artist from Miami, Florida. Leading today’s art millennial generation, Perez’ works feature fresh perspectives to many personal experiences, topics and movements with strong messages that tie into her work, and captivate her audiences.

Jenny Perez began her career as a visual artist, primarily using canvases and acrylic paint as her medium. Throughout the past seven years, Perez has grown to include several other mediums to accompany her canvas works, as her art has often been incorporated to set a powerful ambiance to venues, stores and even street art – with murals and festivals.

INSPIRATION
This special piece was created specifically for the runners. I wanted to paint something that would uplift their spirits and motivate them to continue on their race! The theme of the race is “Miami Famous,” so I decided to create a Miami scene of our iconic buildings, and of course integrated into all those tall skyscrapers a house, because it’s home, our home! In addition to that, hearts float whimsically above in the sky alongside abstract flowers, both representing life. My female character is essentially the embodiment of all of those runners out there. She is strong, vivacious and grounded, she is the mother, the reflection and the extension to the city. She is Miami Famous.

2015 | ROMERO BRITTO

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Miami Artists Corner Banners

Internationally renowned pop artist Romero Britto uses vibrant colors and bold patterns as a visual language of hope and happiness, reflecting his optimistic faith in the world around him. Born in Recife, Brazil in 1963, Britto lived an extremely modest lifestyle while growing up amongst eight brothers and sisters. However, his innate creativity allowed Britto to fill his life with images of a bigger and more beautiful world beyond his own.

Self-taught at an early age, he painted what he saw and what he imagined on surfaces such as newspapers, cardboard or any scraps that he could find. Britto’s artistic nature eventually led him to seek experiences outside the classroom. In 1983, Britto traveled to Paris where he was introduced to the works of Matisse and Picasso. After exhibiting in a few galleries and private shows, Britto was encouraged to travel to the United States where Pop Art was flourishing. Britto moved to Miami and set up a studio open to the public.

With an unshakable resolve and belief in his art, Britto spent the next few years exhibiting and attracting the attention of many. In 1988, he was selected alongside Andy Warhol and Keith Haring for Absolut Vodka’s “Absolut Art” campaign. His work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in over 100 countries, including the Salon de la Soci?t? Nationale des Beaux Arts exhibition at the Carrousel du Louvre in 2008 and 2010. He has created public art installations for the 02 Dome (Berlin), John F. Kennedy Airport (New York), Cirque Du Soleil at Super Bowl XLI, and has been credited with the largest monumental sculpture in Hyde Park (London) history.  He served as an official artist for the 2010 World Cup and was recently appointed Ambassador to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. Britto’s pop sensibility has since leant itself to many collaborations with such brands as Audi, Bentley, Coca-Cola, Disney, Evian, Hublot, Mattel, and Technomarine to name a few. Romero Britto?s art appeals to all!

Romero Britto is an artistic activist for charitable organizations worldwide and most of all an artist who believes “art is too important not to share.”  He serves as a benefactor, donating time, art and resources to over 250 charitable organizations and on several boards such as Best Buddies International, and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Britto was named an inaugural founding benefactor of the Harvard International Negotiation Program by Daniel Shapiro, a program that seeks peaceful resolution to modern conflict. Not a silent advocate, Britto has been selected several times to be a speaker for the arts at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. A firm believer in the role of an artist as an agent of positive change, Romero Britto is committed to developing and supporting the powerful role art plays in world issues.

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2014 | ALEXANDER MIJARES

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Alexander Mijares has established himself as one of South Florida’s most vibrant artistic talents. A Miami native with Cuban and Spanish roots, Mijares finds inspiration in the colorful energy of both his city and heritage. He has headlined large-scale events at Art Basel Miami Beach, ART Santa Fe, and Art Wynwood, where he debuted a new collection of work at his solo pop-up gallery, in conjunction with Details Magazine. He has participated in prestigious exhibitions around the country, in events at NYC’s Times Square, the Hamptons and Los Angeles. His collaborations with renowned international artists, such as Pez, Desire Obtain Cherish, and Kenor, have caught the attention of esteemed brands such as SAVEUR Magazine, Heineken, The SLS Hotel and, Brioni, who have expressed a vested interest in working with Mijares.

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2013 | DAVID ‘LEBO’ LE BATARD

David Le Batard, better known in the art world as Lebo, is recognized for working in a wide spectrum of creative mediums including murals, paintings and sculptures. Lebo is the innovator of Postmodern Cartoon Expressionism – a combination of cartoon imagery, richly saturated balances of color and unique linear composition brought together in a narrative style to inspire emotion and create layers of meaning.

Lebo’s visual storytelling method pulls from classic American cartooning and fine art, every form of indigenous art and Egyptian hieroglyphics to create a unique visual language – one that strives to have a wide point of entry for the viewer with endless layers of meaning within. It is a world where mythology, history, metaphysics and illustration all join seamlessly.

Born to Cuban immigrant parents and raised in South Florida, Lebo has become one of the most well-respected muralists in Miami. With a showroom in Wynwood and a studio in Miami Beach, Lebo’s art can be found all over the world, in private collections and in corporate partnerships including Norwegian Cruise Lines, Lulu Lemon, Harley Davidson, Audi, Google, Microsoft, Redbull, Ketel One, Bacardi and Ferrari.

‘My aim in creating is to explore the purest, most spiritual elements of the arts and sciences (from astronomy to history, from music to physics) and to interpret them through the language of cartoons, giving them a unique and vibrant voice. After all, cartoons are a primordial form of expression that have always combined images in order to tell stories. We have only to think of rock paintings, hieroglyphics or religious iconography for our proof. In reality, even when we look at Picasso’s work after 1905, it all becomes very hard edged yet organic. The very essence of cartooning.? – David ‘LEBO’ Le Batard

2012 | STEPHEN GAMSON

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Miami Artists Corner Banners

 

Stephen Gamson, an Artist from the communication age, has a unique style that is easily recognized for its bold colors, iconic symbols and mass appeal. His work is collected by A-list celebrities, corporations and art enthusiasts in Europe and the United States. Gamson is an official Artist for brands such as Cafe Bustelo, The Intercontinental Miami, The Bacardi Cup, The Miami City Ballet, Epicure Gourmet Market, The New World Symphony, Miami Beach Polo World Cup, Select Vodka, and many others.

Last year, Gamson was selected to represent the United States in a group Museum show at El Museo Casa Turquesta in Mexico. His painting titled “At the Museum” found a home in their permanent collection. In Europe, he was commissioned to create artwork for the 67th Monaco Grand Prix, and the Princess Grace Foundation. Also, his art was included on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. He is proud to have designed an official Lamborghini Art Car in his trademark style and is currently working on an aircraft project. Gamson was tapped to be the official Artist for the City of Miami’s Birthday Celebration. He is also affiliated with charities such as Project Sunshine, The Ronald McDonald House. Down Syndrome Association of Miami, Pink and Blue for Two. Step by Step Foundation, Kristi House, American Cancer Society and The Special Olympics. He also volunteers his time and donates countless pieces in the name of philanthropy.

MIAMI’S PERPETUAL PALM | GARY TRACZYK

Gary Traczyk’s stainless steel kinetic sculptures are delicately balanced works of art inspired by spiritual emotion and expression. Each piece of art is one of a kind and challenges the mind to wander in a meditative state of discovery.

Gary, a native South Floridian, attended New World School of the Arts and received two degrees from Florida State University. He was recently featured and opened the new season of HGTV’s television show “Clever Ideas.”

His work has been shown in Miami, Palm Springs, Laguna Beach, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Malibu, La Jolla and other cities across the U.S. Gary’s commitment to charity includes: National Foundation for Advancement In the Arts, Mother’s Voices, Operation Smile, Escondido Childrens Museum, and Miami Children’s Museum.

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