The Language of Symbols in Coastal Art

September 04, 2025

One of the most beautiful things about art is its ability to communicate without a single word. A painting, a sculpture, or even a small piece of jewelry can carry meaning so deeply rooted in our culture and environment that it speaks instantly to the heart. Here on the Island, we live surrounded by a language that has been centuries in the making—symbols drawn from the sea.

A Personal Symbol

Every so often, a piece of art carries a story far deeper than what’s on the canvas. For me, that’s Rising Up. This mixed media work began on a reclaimed 36"x36" canvas originally painted with a light blue background by the late, great artist and legendary surfer, John Olvey. I could not know his vision for this canvas, but I chose to build upon it—layering in charcoal, oil pastels, and acrylics to bring to life the grace and movement of a coastal bird in flight.

The frame, also built by John, still cradles the finished work—making it a true collaboration across time. It was an honor to add my hand to his, and I hope he would be pleased with the result. A portion of the sale will benefit The John Olvey Scholarship fund.

In many ways, this piece embodies the same language of coastal art that I love to write about: resilience, grace, and the ability to rise above. Just as a lighthouse speaks of guidance or an anchor of homecoming, this bird—mid-step, wings lifting—whispers of hope, renewal, and the beauty of continuing someone else’s story.

Rising Up, 36"x36" Mixed Media painting, by Melissa Mitchell

Icons of the Coast

Look closely and you’ll see them everywhere—lighthouses, anchors, seagulls, sand dollars, ships. These aren’t just pretty pictures; each holds a story. A lighthouse often stands for guidance and hope, a reminder that light can cut through even the roughest seas. Anchors have long been a symbol of homecoming, stability, and the safe harbor we all need. A soaring seagull? Freedom.

And sand dollars—those delicate, star-marked treasures—carry their own lore. Some say they’re tokens of faith, others call them “mermaid money,” imagining them as the currency of an underwater kingdom. Whether you see them as legend or simple beauty, they remain a timeless coastal keepsake.

Ships, of course, can mean many things: adventure, exploration, resilience. Artists know the power of these symbols. Some use them boldly, letting the symbol take center stage. Others weave them subtly into a larger scene, a quiet detail you only notice when you step closer.

From Tradition to Today

The Gulf Coast has been inspiring artists for generations. Early painters captured the raw beauty of windswept dunes and working harbors. Today’s coastal artists still draw from those same elements, but often with a modern twist—abstract interpretations of wave patterns, minimalist sketches of seabirds in flight, or mixed media pieces that incorporate real shells, driftwood, or nautical charts.

Morning Calm - acrylic painting by Artist, Jo Prairie

And sometimes, those coastal symbols are not painted at all, but carved, cast, or sculpted into permanence.

A Landmark We All Know

One of the most recognizable coastal symbols on Padre Island isn’t a painting—it’s a sculpture. As you cross into the Island, you’re greeted by Kent Ullberg’s iconic swordfish—a striking welcome to both locals and visitors. Ullberg, one of the greatest wildlife sculptors in the world, lives right here on the Island and has created works seen across the globe, from his Christ statue on Shoreline in Corpus Christi to monumental pieces in museums and cities worldwide. His art reminds us that the symbols of the sea can be larger than life—quite literally—and still carry the same universal meanings.

I was lucky enough to see an advanced screening of the documentary Ullberg: Wind in the Sails in January at the Rockport Center for the Arts, where Mr. Ullberg and his wife, Veerle, were also in attendance. It is always exciting to discover the depth and story behind something we often take for granted, and this film is a perfect example. More than just an artistic journey, it’s also a love story—not only of Ullberg’s deep connection to nature and his craft, but of the beautiful life he shares with Veerle. Through breathtaking visuals and intimate storytelling, it traces his path from the coasts of Sweden to the shores of South Texas, capturing the artistry, devotion, and partnership that have shaped his extraordinary career.

Ullberg Movie Premiere , January 2025 at Rockport Center for the Arts

If you’d like to experience it for yourself, a special showing will take place Friday, September 12, 2025, at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi’s Performing Arts Center. Kent Ullberg will be in attendance along with internationally recognized marine wildlife artist Dr. Guy Harvey, making it a rare opportunity to celebrate art, nature, and community in one evening. Proceeds support the PBS broadcast edit of the film, set to air in May 2026 as part of the Made in Texas series, produced by Matt and Denise Thornton of Griffyn.co Productions.

Like the anchors, lighthouses, and sand dollars found in so much coastal art, Ullberg’s swordfish stands as a symbol—both a welcome and a reminder—that the sea’s stories are worth telling in every form.

Finding Your Own Symbols

The beauty of living by the coast is that you get to decide what these symbols mean to you. Maybe the lighthouse in a painting reminds you of your grandmother’s kitchen wall. Maybe the anchor on a piece of pottery makes you think of the first time you set sail.

At Padre Island Art Gallery, I see it every day—visitors drawn to pieces because they feel familiar, comforting, or inspiring. The symbols connect them to a place, a memory, a dream. That, to me, is the true language of coastal art: it speaks in the sound of waves, the call of a gull, the shape of a sail against the horizon. And when you take it home, it quietly speaks the soothing voices of the sea.

Like finding a sand dollar in the surf, it feels like a small treasure—your own bit of “mermaid money” to carry home, reminding you of where you’ve been and the stories you’ll tell.

The Art of Island Life will return next week with more stories and creative inspiration from our coastal community. Have a story to share or an upcoming event? Reach out to me at melissa@padreislandartgallery.com.