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| The New World Mural 1513 - 1988 The recreation was commissioned by architect Richard Heisenbottle during the tower’s restoration, uniting six artists under a single vision: Wade Foy, John Conroy, William Mark Coulthard, Phylis Shaw, Gerome Villa Bergsen, and Ana Bikic, Freedom Tower Miami Florida USA Historical Budling and Fine Art By the Miami Artisans 1988 Group |
The Freedom Tower Mural 1513 — Composition, Vision & Legacy
A New Creation Rooted in a Lost Image
Few works reflect Miami’s layered identity more profoundly than the New World Mural 1513, displayed in the Grand Hall of the Freedom Tower. Painted in 1988 by The Miami Artisans, Wade Foy, John Conroy, William Mark Coulthard, Phylis Shaw, Gerome Villa Bergsen, and Ana Bikic, the work is not a restoration of the damaged 1925 mural, but a new, original artistic creation conceived under a unifying vision.
Commissioned by architect Richard Heisenbottle, the project brought the six artists together inside the vast Miami Coliseum, where they worked for months on two monumental canvases, each 44 feet wide and 25 feet high. Their mission was not simply to revive a memory, but to rebuild a philosophy, a dialogue between truth, encounter, and identity.
A Map of the Human Spirit
The mural unfolds like an illuminated map of discovery, merging history, imagination, and symbolism. Galleons, waves, mermaids, constellations, and navigational emblems guide the viewer through humanity’s search for new horizons.
At its center, Juan Ponce de León stands at the moment of contact with the Tequesta Miamians, the Native people whose culture flourished centuries before Spanish arrival.
This placement was deliberate: both figures stand at the same level, separated only by the poem. The artists chose this composition to elevate both Ponce de León and the Tequesta with equal dignity, correcting a historical narrative that had often distorted or erased both sides. Their intention was transparency, truth, and respect, ensuring that the Native people who lived here long before us appear with pride, presence, and honor.
Between them lies the hand-painted poem by Edwin Markham (1852–1940), calligraphed by Gerome Villa Bergsen. Its message of justice and compassion reflects the Freedom Tower’s deeper spirit of refuge and humanity.
The central panel’s decorative balance was refined by Phylis Shaw, while Ana Bikic, as colorist, harmonized the entire palette into a serene atmosphere where sea, land, time, and legend flow together.
The Mirror — Symbol of Reflection
One of the most significant artistic decisions is the placement of the mirror at the center of the composition.
The mirror is both literal and symbolic:
• it reflects every visitor standing before the mural
• it unites past, present, and future
• it reminds the viewer that history is not distant; each person is part of it
In the artists’ vision, the mirror elevates both Ponce de León and the Tequesta equally, connecting them, and us, through the poem and through truth. This is a key element of the mural’s eco-symbolism: history must be seen, questioned, and understood with clarity.
Research and Artistic Process
Before a single brushstroke was placed, the artists researched Florida’s earliest chronicles, historical maps, Indigenous accounts, and maritime records. Their goal was to portray Florida’s beginnings not as conquest, but as encounter.
The final work was painted entirely by hand in acrylic and oil, then carefully mounted onto the ballroom walls. Installation required precise alignment to merge both giant canvases into a single continuous image.
Ownership, Copyright & Historical Accuracy
The 1988 mural was immediately recognized as the centerpiece of the renovated Freedom Tower.
However, through the years, confusion arose regarding its authorship and nature.
To protect the work from misrepresentation, William Mark Coulthard and Ana Bikic registered the copyright in the 1990s, ensuring that the collective creation of The Miami Artisans remained part of the permanent historical record.
During the 2014 building restoration, both artists assisted again — not repainting the artwork, but protecting its integrity, its color, and its meaning. Their involvement preserved the original vision.
Legacy & Importance Today
The New World Mural 1513 transforms the Freedom Tower’s Grand Hall into a space of reflection and dialogue. It remains a luminous visual conversation between:
• art and architecture
• myth and memory
• Florida’s origins and Miami’s evolving identity
Cultural figures including Celia Cruz, Michelle Obama, and members of the Spanish royal family have spoken before it, their images reflected in the central mirror that unites generations.
As the Freedom Tower approaches its centennial, the artists continue to advocate for a permanent plaque naming the six creators, whose collective vision shaped one of Miami’s greatest artistic achievements.
Painted in 1988. Protected in the 1990s. Conserved in 2014.
A living monument to Miami’s identity — where waves, history, and humanity meet.
To learn the full historical documentation, visit:
NewWorldMural1513.com
CONTACT
Miami Art Reviews
Email: miamiartreviews@gmail.com
For historical documentation or artist inquiries:
Email: newworldmural1513@gmail.com (optional — use only if you want a second contact)
Artist contact:
Ana Bikic – President of Miami Art Reviews
Email: miamiartreviews@gmail.com
OFFICIAL LINKS
Official Mural Documentation:
https://www.newworldmural1513.com
Artist Website & Blog:
https://colordesign360.blogspot.com
Miami Art Reviews:
https://miamiartreviews.blogspot.com
(Use this as the main platform for articles, updates, and interviews.)
Interview – VoyageMIA Profile on Ana Bikic:
https://voyagemia.com/interview/daily-inspiration-meet-ana-bikic/
SOURCES & REFERENCE MATERIAL
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NewWorldMural1513.com — Historical record of the 1988 creation of the mural, the artists involved, copyright registration, and archival information.
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ColorDesign360 Blog — Pages detailing the mural’s origin, eco-symbolism, and the 2014 conservation work.
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Miami Art Reviews — Articles written by the artists documenting Miami’s cultural history, including the Freedom Tower and the New World Mural 1513.
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VoyageMIA Interview — Published journalistic interview confirming authorship, artistic philosophy, and cultural relevance.
Contacts: miamiartreviews@gmail.com
Official Documentation: NewWorldMural1513.com
Artist Website: www.miamiartreviews.com
Interview: VoyageMIA – Daily Inspiration: Ana Bikic
To continue reading the Florida 1513 story, visit our pages on the New World Mural 1513, Ponce de León, the Tequesta, and the Freedom Tower.
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