Is Blue the Color of the Ocean?

Known for his dreamlike figures and electric palette, Ramirez brings his distinctive visual language into the public realm with a mural that speaks directly to Miami’s transnational character. The composition layers architectural forms, stylized bodies, and saturated hues that challenge literal interpretations of place and instead evoke emotional and cultural landscapes.

The title poses a poetic question rather than offering an answer. For Ramirez, the ocean is not defined by a single color—it is a space of passage, migration, and transformation. This ambiguity reflects the experiences of Caribbean and Latin American diasporas whose identities are shaped by movement between homelands and new cities.

Installed along The Underline’s pedestrian corridor, the mural unfolds as viewers move past it, revealing shifting relationships between figures, shapes, and symbols. The work mirrors the rhythm of transit overhead while grounding visitors in a moment of reflection below.

By integrating contemporary art into everyday infrastructure, the piece reinforces The Underline’s mission to function not only as a mobility corridor, but also as a cultural spine for Miami—one that amplifies the voices and histories that define the city.

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