A monumental sculpture titled "Reflection" by French-born artist Prune Nourry has been installed at Ocean Terrace Park in Miami Beach, honoring the women of the U.S. Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (Spars) who served during World War II. The 21.3-foot sculpture features a half-face resting in water, completed by its reflection, with a mangrove tree sprouting from the side of the head. It was unveiled on October 30 and is Nourry’s first public art project in the U.S. The work uses the likeness of Yeoman Third Class Nellie Locust, a Cherokee woman who served in the Spars, with permission from her family. The sculpture was created in collaboration with landscape architect Raymond Jungles.
This work matters because it addresses the scarcity of public monuments to women’s history in the U.S., particularly those celebrating women’s contributions on a monumental scale. By honoring the often-overlooked service of the Spars and specifically highlighting an Indigenous woman’s story, the sculpture challenges historical erasure and broadens the narrative of who is commemorated in public art. It also continues Nourry’s practice of using sculpture to uplift marginalized women’s stories, linking contemporary feminist art with public memory and environmental design.