By Ombretta Agro’ Andruff
I’m an Italian-born freelance curator with a serious love for the ocean. My career has taken me on quite a ride across some fun and colorful places: I spent 15 years in the hustle of New York City, I’ve been calling the sunny shores of Miami Beach home for the last 12, and I’m back in my hometown of Turin, Italy, more and more since late 2022.
Becoming a contemporary art curator kind of fell into place for me. Back in university, I realized pretty quickly that being an artist wasn’t my path, but I absolutely loved being part of the creative process and working with artists. Curating turned out to be the perfect blend of my love for art and my knack for collaboration.
For more than 20 years, I built an exciting international curatorial career. But after a while, I started craving something more than just one-off projects. I wanted a long-term venture—something that would have a real, lasting impact beyond gallery walls.
When I traded the buzz of New York City for the laid-back, coastal vibes of Miami, my connection with the ocean came flooding back (pun intended!). Spending more time in and by the water, training for open water swimming, diving and kiteboarding, opened my eyes to the harsh reality of the climate crisis and pollution wreaking havoc on our oceans. Once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it.
Being surrounded by Miami’s coastal beauty inspired me to create ARTSail, a project that brings together my love for contemporary art and my passion for the ocean through climate-conscious creativity. ARTSail ended up shifting my whole perspective, sparking a bit of an activist fire in me. Now, I’m not just tackling the climate crisis and pollution through my curatorial work, but also through workshops, panel discussions, and outreach programs. These efforts have taken me way beyond the typical gallery and museum walls, allowing me to connect with people from all walks of life.
A nomadic and multi-faceted platform, since 2016 ARTSail fosters collaborations between cultural creators and climate experts to address the climate crisis in South Florida and beyond. We facilitate artist connections with activists and scientists to explore the impact of climate change and man-made pollution on our waterways, resulting in actionable climate advocacy initiatives. Our programs span artist residencies, exhibitions, and community outreach, bridging awareness to action and leveraging artists’ communicative power for policy advocacy.
Six cultural producers completed month-long residencies in Miami between 2016 and 2022; and I am thrilled to announce that we kicked-off our first project in Europe, with a research residency that brought Miami-based artist Deborah Mitchell to Venice in October 2024, exploring similarities and differences between the Florida wetlands and the Venice Lagoon. Can’t wait to see what comes out of this pilot project!
While we do programming all year round, the World Ocean Celebration has become our flagship event. Since 2021, to honor World Ocean Day, on June 8, ARTSail has partnered with another Miami-based non-profit, Blue Scholars Initiative, to present the World Ocean Celebration. Designed to raise awareness on ocean conservation, the weekend program provides free activities ranging from art, recreation and impact to science, education and entertainment bringing together South Florida youth and community members to enjoy, engage with, and protect our ONE World Ocean.
We’re gearing up for a big celebration of our 5th anniversary in June 2025! This extended version will take place over a full week, packed with exciting new features like an ocean-themed spoken word event, a music night at the iconic North Miami Bandshell, guided reef explorations, and stand-up paddleboard clean-ups. Plus, you’ll find art installations sprinkled throughout the week. We can’t wait to bring this to life and celebrate with our Miami-Dade County communities!
Another exciting project we are working on is the Sheroes of the Ocean platform, aimed at illuminating the remarkable narratives of women who are playing pivotal roles in ocean conservation. Spanning a diverse spectrum, these women include artists, cultural producers, marine biologists, environmentalists, oceanographers, and activists. Devoting their lives to comprehending, safeguarding, and preserving our oceans, these individuals not only captivate us with their compelling stories but also underscore the pressing need for heightened awareness regarding the imperative care of our marine ecosystems.
Sheroes of the Ocean 2023
Originating in 2020 as ARTSail Conversations, the series has steadily evolved. To date, we have featured 19 women from the United States, Japan, Estonia, Mexico, Russia, and Brazil. Through a range of formats, including online one-on-one interviews and in-person panel discussions at our annual flagship event—the World Ocean Celebration—we have fostered engaging dialogues and inspired audiences.
Our next venture involves an expansion of the platform. We are set to produce short films that delve into the lives of each Shero, accompanied by the establishment of a dedicated website we just launched, www.sheroesoftheocean.org, and a robust social media presence. This initiative seeks to create a global network that not only supports and sustains the efforts of these Sheroes but also fosters mutual support among them.
As a result of launching this platform, I was particularly excited to be invited to join a brand-new collective SHE Changes Ocean, spearheaded by another fierce ocean advocate, Antoinette Vermilye, a co-founder of SHE Changes Climate – a movement uniting a coalition of women and women-led organizations promoting inclusive solutions to climate, social justice and gender balance.
SHE Changes Ocean was created as an informal vessel to harness our collective resources and networks with a clear mission: to amplify the visibility and expertise of women at global and local ocean events, which remain largely dominated by patriarchal structures. The initiative strives to elevate women into leadership roles within the ocean conservation movement, fostering a more inclusive and equitable future.
Other members of this powerhouse cohort are: Andi Cross, Impact Strategist, Expedition Lead, Writer & Divemaster for Edges of the Earth; Cristina Rocha Antunes, Founder of United by the Sea; Cristina Tebar Less, Environmental Lawyer and Chair of Women for Sea; Farah Obaidullah, Founder of Women4Oceans, a project of The Ocean and Us; Mamta Borgoyary, Executive Director of SHE Changes Climate; Taïme Smit Pellure, Marine Biologist and Activist, Co-founder of Acción Océanos; and Victoria Ramm, Development Manager of Sea Shepherd Global.
I’m truly honored to be among such inspiring ocean protectors, and I’m excited about what we can achieve together! I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for all of us as we explore innovative, impactful and creative ways to safeguard our beloved One World Ocean!”
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