Marine, Coastal & Harbourside Sculpture

Dolphin, Whale, Seahorse & Marlin Sculptures

Queensland-based sculptor Michael Van Dam builds marine life from marine-grade stainless steel chain, with each piece taking hundreds of hours to weld. His dolphin sculpture, breaching whale sculpture, seahorse sculpture and marlin sculpture are made for the coast. The same material used on boats and jetties means they stand up to salt spray, pool water and harbour air. They make striking outdoor dolphin and whale statues for waterfront gardens, pool surrounds, marinas and resort entries.

Ocean-Inspired Sculpture

Beyond marine animals, our collection includes works shaped by the sea itself: wave forms, tides, swimmers and bathers, and nautical themes. Examples include Jason Aslin’s Barrel Wave, Ben Fasham’s Jewel De La Mer in stainless steel, and Mela Cooke’s bronze swimmers, including High Tide.

Choosing Sculpture for Seaside & Harbourside Sites

316 (marine) grade stainless steel: the first choice for beachfront, harbourside and poolside sites. A fresh-water rinse every few months prevents light surface marks known as tea staining. Outdoor stainless steel sculpture.

Bronze: naturally resistant to salt and moisture, and centuries of bronze statues on harbours and seafronts prove it. An annual wax keeps the patina even. Bronze sculptures and statues.

Corten steel: beautiful on coastal properties set back from the water, but not recommended where it will be constantly wet with salt spray, because its protective layer needs to dry out between wet spells.

Wind and footings: seafront sites are exposed. Taller works are fixed to an engineered footing or a heavy stone plinth, and sand, decks and sea walls each need their own fixing solution. We specify this as part of installation.

Harbour, Marina & Waterfront Placements

ARTpark has placed sculpture on some of Australia’s best-known waterfronts, including Walsh Bay and Woolloomooloo on Sydney Harbour, the Shellharbour Marina Sculpture Walk, and the Kiama Sculpture Walk on the NSW South Coast. On the Gold Coast, we managed the reproduction and reinstallation of the Kirra Sea Eagle on Kirra Hill. For marinas, resorts, councils and waterfront developments, see public art and large-scale commissions.

Delivered & Installed Australia-Wide

Every sculpture in our collection can be delivered and installed at coastal homes and projects across Australia, from Sydney Harbour and the Northern Beaches to the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, the Mornington Peninsula, Perth’s western suburbs and the Fleurieu Peninsula. More on delivery and installation.