The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Virginia Beach is presenting "O'er the Wide and Plastic Sea," an exhibition of multimedia works by Brooklyn artist Duke Riley, running through August 31. The show spans two decades of Riley's practice, with the centerpiece artwork created from beach trash—including lighters, buoy pieces, and syringes—collected largely from Virginia Beach shores. Riley's work explores tensions between individual and collective behavior, institutional power, and nature's struggle with modern problems, blending early American styles, folklore, and sea-craft aesthetics.
This exhibition matters because it brings urgent environmental themes into a coastal community directly affected by ocean plastic pollution, using art as a vehicle for public engagement. Riley's satirical yet clever approach makes complex ecological issues accessible, while the free admission ensures broad community access. The show also highlights how contemporary artists are repurposing waste materials to create meaningful commentary on consumerism and environmental degradation, reinforcing MOCA's role in presenting socially relevant contemporary art.