Harn Museum of Art presents ‘Oliver Jeffers: Life at Sea’
Press release from the Harn Museum of Art
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida is inviting visitors of all ages into an illustrated seascape inspired by one of Oliver Jeffers’ beloved children’s books, “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth.” Oliver Jeffers: Life at Sea features an underwater world that begins, when the exhibit first opens, as sparsely populated. Over the course of the presentation, visitors will bring this ocean to life by creating and adding sea creatures to imagine an abundant future. The exhibition is organized by the Brooklyn Museum and curated by Sharon Matt Atkins, Deputy Director for Art, and Keonna Hendrick, Deputy Director for Learning and Social Impact. Life at Sea opens September 29, 2026, and will be on view until May 30, 2027.
Based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Brooklyn, Oliver Jeffers is an award-winning artist, illustrator, and writer who uses storytelling to advocate for the environment. His first nonfiction book, “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth,” was written as a guide for his newborn son on how to navigate the world with kindness and an appreciation for the world around him. Grounded in Jeffers’s signature humor and playfulness, the Harn’s exhibit similarly prompts visitors to explore their relationship with the Earth and the climate—this time by collaboratively creating an ocean environment.
“We are excited to see the community come together in a dedicated gallery space for creating art,” said Dr. Lee Anne Chesterfield, Harn Museum of Art Director. “This initiative illustrates our commitment to being a free and accessible space that engages a vibrant, wide-ranging group of individuals, making visitors feel connected to their community.”
In addition to visitors decorating and installing sea creatures throughout the underwater landscape, the installation includes a sunken ship and a reading nook featuring books by writers who inspire imaginative thinking about the importance of caring for the environment. The Harn’s monthly, recurring programs such as Tot Time and Art Break will include designing specific marine life to populate the gallery’s ocean floor, assisting in the transformation of the deep blue oceanic mural from a lonely expanse into a vibrant biome full of sea life.
For more information visit www.harn.ufl.edu/lifeatsea. Admission is free.