November 7, 2026
Romero Britto’s Miami Beach Palm Trees, Reimagined
From the Fifth & Alton landmark to a monumental private commission
At the intersection of Fifth Street and Alton Road in Miami Beach, an extraordinary composition of two towering palm trees and a colorful beach ball has become one of Romero Britto’s most recognizable public installations.
A Colorful Landmark at the Gateway to South Beach
Commissioned as part of the Fifth & Alton commercial development, the project was conceived in the mid-2000s by developer Jeffrey Berkowitz, an enthusiastic collector of Britto’s work.
Installed in 2009, the sculpture translates the artist’s familiar hearts, tropical imagery, bright colors and bold graphic outlines into a monumental architectural statement.
Frequently identified as North Star, the installation has become a familiar sight for visitors entering South Beach.
A Monumental Commission for a Private Collector
A decade after the Miami Beach installation, Britto Central documented a private commission of a related sculpture.
The November 22, 2019 sales order identifies the work as Palm Trees & Beach Ball Monumental (6 ft), intended as an outdoor sculpture for a private residence.
The composition retains the distinctive visual language of the public landmark: intersecting stylized palm trees, vivid geometric ornamentation and a separate multicolored beach ball.
Its approximately six-foot format brings the architectural presence of Britto’s public artwork into a more intimate residential setting, while preserving the sculptural exuberance of the original composition.
Art, Architecture and the Spirit of Miami
The relationship between these sculptures illustrates an important aspect of Britto’s practice: the ability to translate a highly recognizable graphic language across different scales and environments.
From monumental civic installations to privately commissioned works, Britto’s art celebrates color, playfulness and optimism.
The privately commissioned sculpture offers a distinctive connection to the visual culture of Miami Beach and one of the artist’s best-known local public projects.
Sources and further reading
- Miami New Times, “Britto’s Republic”, February 24, 2005.
- Miami New Times, “Five Reasons to Egg the New Britto Sculpture at Fifth & Alton”, October 2, 2009.
- Park West Gallery, “Romero Britto’s Influence on Miami Art”, July 6, 2016 (the installation as North Star).
- Berkowitz Development Group, Fifth & Alton and Britto Sculptures (the installation as Britto Lights).
- EDENS, Art at Our Places, July 2021, p. 23 (the installation as Untitled).
- Romero Britto, Commissions, official website.
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