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On May 17, the Oregon Coast Aquarium unveils Washed Ashore, a temporary exhibit featuring larger-than-life sculptures inspired by marine creatures and the threats they face. Each sculpture is made entirely of debris collected from ocean beaches, with the goal of raising awareness about plastic pollution.
The Aquarium hosted Washed Ashore once before in 2010. Since then, Washed Ashore has processed over 50 tons of plastic from Pacific Northwest beaches, bringing the global marine debris crisis into the spotlight through art. To celebrate the exhibit’s 15th anniversary, the Aquarium will display 15 sculptures, including Flash the Marlin, Greta the Great White Shark, and other unique pieces.
Access to Washed Ashore is included with general admission.
It is our honor to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Washed Ashore by displaying 15 sculptures during this exhibit’s return to the Aquarium. We invite you to contribute to this effort; donations of $250 or more received by Earth Day 2025 (April 22nd) will be recognized on a special donor list displayed in the exhibit.
The temporary exhibit Washed Ashore at the Oregon Coast Aquarium features 15 different sculptures of wildlife, all made from Pacific Northwest beach-sourced debris. From well known sculptures like Priscilla the Rainbow Parrotfish to a brand new addition, guests can expect to be drawn in and awed by each piece.
While the majority of the sculptures and information about Washed Ashore will be located in our temporary exhibit space–right next to our Sandy Shores gallery–you can also find select pieces in other parts of the Aquarium.
See if you can find them all! Each sculpture features unique items–a fan blade, a toy boat, a refrigerator door, and more. Follow along with our scavenger hunt to see if you can find each sculpture’s items of note hidden in plain sight!
Scavenger hunt cards will be provided in person, on this web page, and via our interactive map. Check back here closer to the exhibit opening for a downloadable copy!
A brand new sculpture will be revealed alongside the debut of Washed Ashore! Join us in person to see the brand new eight-legged addition to the Washed Ashore roster.
Don’t forget to vote for the octopus’ name in the following poll!
The Washed Ashore Project creates powerful art that captivates all ages and teaches environmental conservation and sustainability. The Washed Ashore Traveling Exhibits feature collections of intricate, beautifully designed, giant sea life sculptures that illustrate the tragedy of plastic pollution in our oceans and waterways and encourage conservation.
The debris on featured sculptures was collected from Pacific Coast beaches by volunteers. Each sculpture is designed and directed by Angela Haseltine Pozzi and then created in collaboration with other lead artists, Washed Ashore staff and hundreds of volunteers in Bandon, Oregon. Trash in the ocean is a worldwide problem.
Steve is a lifelong musician born and raised in Colorado. While working as a welder, fabricator and pipefitter, he also created sculptures from repurposed metal. He moved to the area to fulfill his dream of living on the coast and dedicating more time to his art. His love of the ocean, creating artwork and protecting the environment made working at Washed Ashore a perfect fit. In November 2018, Steve began working full-time at Washed Ashore as our Facility & Production Manager, he became an Artist Apprentice soon after. Steve now leads all new sculpture builds.
