American sculptor Carole A. Feuerman has a larger-than-life work on exhibit center stage at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and it has a unique South Florida connection to boot!
“The Diver,” created in 2011, is a stunning 16-foot bronze sculpture with a black patina and polished bronze cap, showing a male diver in action. Out of thousands of applicants, this remarkable piece was selected to be exhibited at the base of the Eiffel Tower for the duration of the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics.
A South Florida Connection
Feuerman’s work caught the eye of the mayor of Paris, who was familiar with her artistry – having seen her sculptures on display years earlier at a Parisian intersection. “This is a perfect piece for the Olympics,” Feuerman told Reuters News, explaining her inspiration came from an encounter with diver Greg Louganis at the Swimming Hall of Fame in South Florida. “When I watched him dive … I knew I had to make a sculpture of a diver in that position, in that beautiful curve.”
Feuerman’s dedication to her craft is mirrored in the spirit of the Olympics:
“The Olympics is the sport of perseverance, of integrity, trust, honesty, and striving to achieve the impossible,” she said. “I just want to be an inspiration for athletes and for young people to never give up.”
With a career spanning over 60 years, Feuerman founded the Carole A. Feuerman Foundation in 2011. The foundation promotes innovative artistic expression and the creative process by organizing fine art exhibitions that showcase the work of underrepresented artists.
A Miami Beach Twin at an iconic Art Deco Hotel
One of Feuerman’s Diver sculptures can also be found right here in Miami Beach – at the entrance to the National Hotel at 1677 Collins Avenue. The 1939 Art Deco landmark was designed by noted architect Roy France. The beachfront adults-only property is located in the Miami Beach Architectural District, more commonly referred to as the Art Deco District.
“We’re thrilled to feature Carole A. Feuerman’s iconic statue at the National Hotel, and its presence at the Paris Olympics symbolizes a shared celebration of elegance, movement, and the timeless spirit of both art and sport,” says General Manager Stephane Mercier.
“The sculpture is admired by thousands of visitors and residents, and it’s an incredible entrance to the landmark hotel. This public piece of art underscores the hotel owner’s – and Miami Beach’s – celebration of the arts and Art Deco. Seeing it makes you want to dive right into the pool or the adjacent Atlantic Ocean,” says MDPL Executive Director Daniel Ciraldo.
The connection between Paris and Miami Beach – both known for their Art Deco heritage – will be celebrated further with the 48th annual Art Deco Weekend, taking place Jan 18-20, 2025. Next year’s festival will highlight the centennial of the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts – where Art Deco was born.
As for the sculptor, she tells NBC6 that she will be presenting a solo show during Art Week Miami Beach / Art Basel, in December.
