Tropical Impressions

“Tropical Impressions” brings a burst of color to the Roth Building in Key West with five large-scale painted aluminum panels that celebrate the island’s legendary botanical abundance. Artist Sal Salinero, a Key West resident and dedicated tropical gardener, drew directly from the plants in his own garden and the Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden for inspiration.

Each panel focuses on a different iconic Keys plant: royal poinciana, frangipani, bougainvillea, bird of paradise, and coconut palm. Salinero rendered these subjects in a semi-abstract style that emphasizes bold shapes and vivid color fields, creating images that are immediately recognizable yet artistically distinctive. The aluminum substrate was chosen for its durability and resistance to the corrosive salt air environment.

The five panels are mounted at regular intervals along the building’s street-facing facade, creating a rhythm that draws pedestrians along the sidewalk and invites closer inspection. At a distance, the panels read as bright splashes of tropical color; up close, they reveal subtle textural details and layered paint applications that reward careful viewing. The commission was part of a broader renovation of the Roth Building that brought the historic structure into compliance with modern accessibility standards while preserving its architectural character.