📝 This summary is provided in good faith for transparency.
Journalists, curators, and dive site partners may quote or contact me directly for the full story. This page exists because what happened here is increasingly common in contemporary public art — and rarely discussed openly.
What Happened (And Why the Coral Throne Was Never Installed)
A story about rights, refusal, and the reef sculpture that still won’t sit down.
First off, Pompano Beach and Shipwreck park are wonderful places, and I would have loved for The Coral Throne™ to live there.
Learn more about the city at pompanobeachfl.gov.
Learn more about Shipwreck Park
In 2025 The Coral Throne was originally selected as the winning sculpture of a competitive Call For Art by the City of Pompano Beach, for a permanent underwater installation at Shipwreck Park.
It was an ambitious vision: an 8-foot-high steel sculpture designed to become an artificial reef, tourist attraction, a loved photo opportunity, and a legacy monument for generations of divers and ocean lovers.
I then proceeded to build a full scope public art plan, tourism campaign, sculpture brand, Instagram pages, and a dedicated web presence for The Coral Throne™.
Welcome to CoralThrone.com
This was all intended to uplift Pompano Beach and Shipwreck Park, drive tourism and economic opportunity, all the while creating and installing a world-class, iconic metal sculpture.
Despite 288,000+ reel views, 25,000+ site visits in one two week period, targeting divers and reef conservationists, and generating interest from over 25 countries…
…the selected sculpture was canceled after I proposed revisions to the contract.
During that time, divers and conservationists world-wide expressed strong interest in the project.
The City stated that its contracts are issued as-is, and that editing, revisions, or negotiations were not permitted.
To be clear: a city, dive site, luxury hotel, or any commissioning body has every right to ask for whatever terms it believes are appropriate. I don't deny that.
An artist also has the right to politely say no.
In the end, we couldn’t agree on intellectual property and other terms.
So I never signed the contract.
Why not?
Because the contract required a complete and permanent assignment of all copyright and derivative rights, including:
* every drawing, including CAD files
* every photo
* every video
* every rendering
* this website and the Instagram @thecoralthrone (listed in an addendum!)
* every future product or artwork “based on” the Coral Throne
In other words, I would no longer own the Coral Throne — legally, artistically, or spiritually.
That’s not how art works.
It’s not how public art should work.
And it’s not the future I’m building.
One clause in the actual contract stated the City would have "an unlimited, perpetual, and irrevocable right" to create derivative works based on my sculpture — but I wouldn’t be allowed to.
I would be prohibited from creating future sculptures based on my own idea, while the city could do whatever they wanted with it.
Sure, they have every right to ask for everything. I don't deny that.
That isn’t partnership as I understand it. It changes the nature of authorship itself.
🚫 Contract Clauses That Ended the Coral Throne Deal
(aka The Part Where the Artist Gets Deleted)
These were terms I simply couldn’t sign — for any price.
These clauses gave the City unrestricted power over my sculpture, my name, and my creative future. I’ve shared them here so other artists and arts organizations can understand why this project was respectfully declined.
Some clauses in the, non-revisable, non-negotiable, as is contract are:
1. The City Could Make Derivatives — But I Couldn’t.
" CITY has an unlimited, perpetual, and irrevocable right to use or reproduce the Artwork in any non-commercial manner or media whatsoever, including without limitation to prepare derivative works based upon the Artwork and to distribute copies of the Artwork."
In plain English: The City could make a new identical sculpture, spin-offs, shirts, books, or animations based on my sculpture, and even duplicate my sculpture, without attribution to me or my design — but I wouldn’t be allowed to. That means I couldn’t even make a Coral Throne Series II.
2. The City Would Own My Artwork and the Copyright.
"Artist hereby assigns all right, title and interest in the Artwork to CITY."
This would permanently strip me of ownership, meaning I couldn’t stop others from copying it or profiting off it later — even if they distorted or misused the design.
3. I Would Lose the Right to Create or Sell Anything Related to the Coral Throne. "
" Artist may not make any reproductions, derivatives, or new artworks based on the Artwork."
Even the idea of a Coral Throne™ sculpture series, reef tourism experience, or charitable endeavors would become legally impossible — unless I got permission from the City to build on my own idea.
4. I’d Be Liable Forever — Even If They Moved or Changed the Sculpture.
"Artist agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the City against any claims arising from the Artwork."
(No sunset clause or liability limit included, for a sculpture I had no control over. Even if the sculpture were damaged, moved, or altered — I’d still be responsible.)
This is not standard practice in most contemporary art projects and contracts around the world.
There are many more throughout the contract, but i limited it to these.
🤝 I Offered a Solution
I proposed a limited-use license:
The city could still install and promote the sculpture, while I retained rights to the idea, the design, the future evolution of the Coral Throne.
I also offered:
✔️ Full VARA waiver
✔️ Insurance coverage
✔️ Broad use terms
But the City said no.
And so I decided I had to walk away.
Walking away from a project of this scale is not an easy decision.
❤️ No Hard Feelings — Just a Bigger Vision
Let’s be clear:
I respect the City of Pompano Beach and Shipwreck Park.
I believe they do good work.
And I hope they find an artist who aligns with their policies.
What now?
The Coral Throne is not just a sculpture.
It’s a story.
It’s a brand.
It’s an entire world.
> I’ve got underwater kids’ coloring books and sea-creature mascots as educational components
> Luxury dive, resort, and luxury location pitch decks.
> Refined tourism strategies that can be reimagined for your site
> I've got full-length documentary mapped out, with complete story arc, a storyboard and 500 shot list, and soundtrack that won’t drown. Which is designed for Netflix.
> Charitable activities and concepts
The sculpture is currently being built.
Each one created after this one will be totally unique. To fit the commissioning bodies location and desires. There will be NO DUPLICATES.
🌍 So Where Is The Coral Throne Going Now?
We’re exploring other dive sites, luxury resorts, coastal cities, and private patrons.
It might live in the Caribbean.
Or the Mediterranean.
Or South Florida.
Or Mexico.
Or Indonesia.
Or a hotel lobby in Dubai.
Or the deck of a cruise ship.
Or...add you site here!
The good news?
We’re not locked down anymore.
You can still be part of it.
Interested in bringing The Coral Throne to your reef, park, property, or waterfront?
[Contact us →]
Want to sponsor the next phase?
We’re actively seeking visionary partners.
Want to follow the journey?
Join our mailing list or follow on Instagram.
This is just the beginning.
The Coral Throne lives.
The Coral Crew lives.
The dream lives.
The Muse is thrilled.
And me?
I’m still building monuments, and I can build yours.
Site-specific. 10 tons and 30-feet-tall if you like.
— Michael Herold
Creator, Coral Throne™