Lladró x Leandro Erlich: Intersecting Art and Ocean Conservation
The intersection of high art and environmental stewardship finds a powerful new voice in The Coral Car Sand Limited Edition, marking the debut collaboration between renowned conceptual artist Leandro Erlich and the heritage porcelain brand Lladró. Unveiled during Miami Art Week, this limited-edition collection sits within Lladró’s Conscious & Creative sustainability initiative and Art Editions umbrella. The project is more than a display of craftsmanship; it is a tangible dialogue on the fragile balance of our natural world, specifically paying tribute to the preservation of coral reefs which are vital to maintaining oceanic ecosystems.
Leandro Erlich (Source: Leandro Erlich's Website)
At the heart of this series lies Erlich’s philosophical concept of transmutation. Known for challenging perceptual reality, Erlich views this collaboration as an act of redemption where the fruits of human progress are transformed to heal the planet. The sculpture envisions a vehicle, a symbol of industrial development and carbon footprint, being reclaimed by nature, suggesting that the same human ingenuity used to conquer the globe can be redirected toward regeneration. The Coral Car Sand serves as a metaphor for a future where humanity and nature coexist in harmony rather than conflict.
"Transmutation becomes an act of redemption, transforming the fruits of human progress into a means to heal and renew our natural world."
— Leandro Erlich
The Coral Car Sand Limited Edition features 1418 handcrafted marine elements placed piece by piece: 293 corals, 167 tube sponges, 427 sea urchins, 467 soft coral, 2 starfish, 1 sea snail, 1 seashell, 37 poriferans, 23 algae.
The execution of this concept displays a mastery of artisanal technique. Handcrafted at Lladró’s headquarters in Valencia, The Coral Car Sand, a limited edition of only 175 units is a masterpiece of complexity, featuring 1,418 hand-sculpted marine elements, from delicate tube sponges and sea urchins to intricate poriferans and algae. Coated in exclusive sand-coloured satin matt finishes, the porcelain captures the boundless beauty of underwater ecosystems, appearing as though the ocean floor has gently embraced the machinery of the past.
Erlich's pivotal public installation Order of Importance at Miami Beach. (Source: Leandro Erlich's Website).
This porcelain series is actually the bridge between two monumental public art projects. It traces its lineage back to Erlich’s 2019 installation Order of Importance, curated by Ximena Caminos, which featured a traffic jam of cars sculpted in sand on the shores of Miami Beach. The narrative concluded in the spring of 2025 with Concrete Coral. This permanent underwater installation placed concrete vehicles on the seabed to function as an artificial reef, turning the artistic statement into a functional habitat for marine life.
Concrete Coral, a permanent marine-safe installation of coral-seeded concrete cars as part of Miami's conservation efforts.
The beneficiary of this artistic endeavour is The REEFLINE, a pioneering underwater public sculpture park and hybrid reef located off the coast of Miami Beach. Master-planned with OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture), The REEFLINE is an ambitious 7-mile underwater corridor designed to enhance marine ecosystems and foster ocean literacy. By selling theses special collaborative pieces, a percentage of the proceeds will directly fund The REEFLINE's mission to plant thousands of corals and create a living classroom where art and science converge to empower future generations.
The Coral Car Sand Limited Edition of 175 units is the intersection between art and ocean conservation efforts, between industrial technology and design ingenuity.
Ultimately, The Coral Car Sand is a testament to the potential for cross-industry collaboration to drive social change. From the gallery exhibitions at Art Basel to the ocean floor of Miami, the project unites collectors, environmentalists, and the public in a shared vision. As Erlich notes, the work conveys that recovery is possible, transforming a symbol of traffic and pollution into a vessel for life, balance, and enduring natural beauty.
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