Art Around the Aquarium

With its galleries, exhibits and curators, the National Aquarium shares some common language with the Baltimore Museum of Art, Walters Art Museum and other cultural institutions. While the Aquarium's focus is science, we have some pretty amazing art, too. The next time you're here, be sure to check out these unique masterpieces!

Pier 4 "Jelly Swarm" (2012)

Huge, translucent, flower-like jellies in shades of pink, purple, blue and gold hang from the ceiling in the Pier 4 Canteen, creating a stunning overhead view. The Aquarium's "Jelly Swarm" was installed in 2012. Artist Steven Siegel was involved in creating the concept design, and then "Jelly Swarm" was fabricated by Dillon Works, a company based near Seattle. The individual jellies are made of upcycled plastic, specifically polyethylene terephthalate or PET, commonly used to make milk jugs and other packaging as well as synthetic fabrics. During the installation, the individual jellies were hung from heavy monofilament lines and attached with clips so they can be removed for cleaning every year or two.

Living Seashore Murals (2015)

The Aquarium partnered with California-based Ink Dwell studio to create three murals in Living Seashore in 2015. Created by artist Jane Kim, the Living Seashore murals depict a progression through Atlantic coastal ecosystems. Much of the installation is paper mosaic, a painstaking process that required the artist to hand-cut hundreds of strips of paper. There are striped bass, menhaden, a brown pelican, a loggerhead sea turtle, jellies and more, portrayed in rich textures and saturated colors. Pale blue ribbons recall the flow of currents and the aesthetic of sheet music, with the animals placed like musical notes.

ACRC Mural (2018)

The brightly colored triangles, squares and rectangles painted on the side of the Animal Care and Rescue Center (ACRC) in Jonestown evoke the geometric patterns found on the exterior of the original Pier 3 Aquarium building. Both are subtle nods to international maritime signal flags, which serve as a universal communication tool for crews on ships. Red Swan studio created the ACRC mural, located on the corner of the building that faces High and Baltimore Streets. The mural was designed and painted by artists Hanna Moran and Lindy Swan, with painting help from students at City Springs Elementary School in Baltimore's historic Jonestown neighborhood.

Pier 3 "Schaefer's Splash" (2019)

Artist Joseph Sheppard created the large painting "Schaefer's Splash" that hangs inside the Aquarium's Main Entrance near the stairs and escalators to the second floor. The painting was installed in 2019 and was commissioned by longtime donors Henry and Dorothy Rosenberg to memorialize William Donald Schaefer's legendary swim in the outdoor seal pool on July 15, 1981. The mural also prominently features Debbie Walker, a model from Washington, D.C., who was hired to perch on a rock wearing a mermaid costume during the mayor's famous dip. WBAL-TV covered the "Schaefer's Splash" unveiling, as did other local news media.

Harbor Wetland Mural (2024)

National Aquarium Harbor Wetland presented by CFG Bank has a beautiful backdrop thanks to the new mural painted on the side of the Aquarium's Pier 4 building. Baltimore-based street artist Nether said his artwork has always connected people to place. He created the Harbor Wetland mural over several weeks in summer 2024, primarily using paint sprayers and spray paint, although he did use rollers in a few areas. The mural shows bubbles, plants, wetland wildlife, and students taking water samples and measuring water quality.