Christina Pettersson: She Spoke for the Birds

Marjory Stoneman Douglas (1890-1998) authored “The Everglades: River of Grass” and spent most of her life advocating for Florida’s environment. Douglas, who also fought for civil rights and women’s suffrage, won the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the age of 105. She made her home in Coconut Grove and remained bold in her advocacy until her death at 108. As the founder of Friends of the Everglades, her legacy continues through the organization's sustained efforts to protect “the only Everglades in the world.”

Birdwatching fueled Marjory’s passion for conservation. The mural, She Spoke for the Birds, by artist and avid birdwatcher Christina Pettersson, portrays her at rest in the bird-filled Everglades she fought to protect.

The work was made possible by the City of Miami Beach Mayor and City Commission through the Art in Public Places Program, in collaboration with the Miami Beach Commission for Women.

About Christina Pettersson

Christina Pettersson was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and raised in Miami, Florida. She creates large-scale drawings, videos, installations, and collaborative performances that delve into Florida’s hidden histories and endangered ecosystems. Rooted in public engagement and cross-disciplinary collaboration, her practice invites audiences to connect more deeply with the landscapes and stories in their own backyards. Her work reflects a reverence for the wilderness of a bygone era and the haunting beauty of a world in decline.

Pettersson is a Fulbright Scholar and the recipient of numerous awards, including a Knight Arts Challenge Grant, a Wavemaker Grant, two Ellies Creator Awards, and three Florida Cultural Consortium Fellowships. Her work is held in the collections of the Pérez Art Museum Miami, Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, Bass Museum of Art, the Margulies Collection, and the Four Seasons Hotel.