An iridescent portal. Sculptural palm fronds. Colors and shadows that shift with the light. Miami artist Alex Nuñez transforms the Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel into an imagined tropical ecosystem as part of the seventh edition of No Vacancy, Miami Beach.

On view November 12 through December 19, 2026, You Cannot Step Into the Same Ocean Twice brings painting, sculpture, and architecture together in an immersive exploration of South Florida’s landscape, where light, water, and time continually reshape our surroundings.

One of 12 artists selected from a record 228 applicants, Nuñez draws inspiration from Miami’s tropical environment, surrounding an iridescent portal with sculptural aluminum palm fronds that reflect changing light and cast shifting colors throughout the space. Accompanying paintings and works on paper further explore themes of memory, adaptation, and transformation.