‘the Observer Effect’ debuts on the Shelborne By Proper beach
The Observer Effect by Pilar Zeta opens on the shoreline in front of The Shelborne By Proper in Miami, bringing a temporary architectural presence that responds directly to its coastal setting. Unveiled on December 2nd, 2025 the public artwork introduces a sequence of metallic portals whose scale, alignment, and surface treatment are shaped by an interest in perception and spatial awareness.
During the evening launch, visitors first encountered the work from the sand, where the relationship between geometry and light came into focus. Eight large-scale portals form a rhythmic perspective toward the horizon, and create a corridor that frames the ocean while remaining permeable to the movement of people and shifting daylight. See designboom’s complete guide to Miami Art Week 2025 here!
image © James Jackman
pilar zeta’s portal of glimmering arches
Each portal of The Observer Effect is built from stacked geometric volumes, producing Pilar Zeta’s arch-like forms with a distinct massing that contrasts the softness of Miami’s coastal landscape. The surfaces are coated in an iridescent metallic finish that reacts to Miami’s changing conditions, transitioning between muted greys and saturated chromatic tones as the sun moves. This treatment gives the work its atmospheric quality, allowing the structure to register even subtle variations in light.
As visitors move through the sequence of forms, the reflective surfaces respond with shifting color gradients, producing a heightened awareness of one’s position in relation to the geometry. The effect aligns with the installation’s title, prompting people to consider how the act of looking shapes their experience of the work.
image © James Jackman
a chromatic colonnade to frame miami beach
In full sun, Pilar Zeta’s The Observer Effect takes on the appearance of a radiant chromatic field, catching both direct light and the softer reflections from Miami’s water and sand. The clarity of the volumes becomes especially noticeable at midday, when shadows emphasize their height and the spacing between each element. Under evening lighting, the work transitions into a focused environment where the forms feel more unified and the reflective surfaces produce a quiet and ambient glow.
This shift between daytime and nighttime conditions allows the installation to function as both a passage and a temporary landmark. Miami’s beachfront context plays an essential role in this transformation, offering an open horizon that accentuates the structure’s silhouette and its capacity for color modulation.
Pilar Zeta describes the installation as an exploration of how perception influences built space, and the arrangement of the eight portals reinforces this approach. The spacing encourages steady movement through the colonnade while avoiding a sense of enclosure, maintaining a direct connection to the beach. Rather than relying on symbolic gestures, the work uses proportion, repetition, and material precision to foreground the experience of passage.
image © James Jackman
image © James Jackman
image © James Jackman
images © Marina Goldi
images © Marina Goldi
images © Marina Goldi
project info:
what: The Observer Effect
artist: Pilar Zeta | @pilar_zeta
location: The Shelborne By Proper | @theshelborne, 1801 Collins Ave, Miami Beach
dates: December 2nd — December 7th, 2025
photography: © James Jackman | @james_jackman_ © Marina Goldi | Marina Goldi
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