Plastics Exhibit in the Ocean Travelers Gallery

Stroll through our gallery in the Open Sea wing and you’ll discover spectacular art installations and photo collages—many created from everyday plastic. Our latest art exhibit features work from artists all over the world who dedicate their careers to the environment. It tells the story of how plastic marine debris impacts open-ocean animals like Laysan albatross seabirds, leatherback sea turtles and marine mammals, such as humpback whales.

Gülnur Özdağlar

Jelly PET Bowls | 2011

Turkish artist Gülnur Özdağlar believes the solution to our accumulation of plastic is "upcycling," not recycling. Gülnur's background in architecture combined with her artistic vision enable her to transform ordinary materials into works of art. Her aim is to instill in discarded plastic materials a higher aesthetic value by designing and creating objects of beauty. Look closely—these delicate bowls resemble ocean jellies.

Laysan Albatross, Gyre, Leatherback Sea Turtle, Humpback Whale by Sayaka Ganz

The Life of Plastic

From toys and disposable lighters to bottles, bags and straws, most of the trash in our oceans is plastic. It travels through our waterways and out to sea where it breaks down into tiny bits, but never completely disappears. Ultimately, this plastic collects in the rich waters of the North Pacific Gyre—the largest landfill in the world, known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and a feeding ground for many animals.

Animals & Plastic

Seabirds, sea turtles and marine mammals journey across the open ocean and encounter plastic debris—many mistake it for food or become entangled in it. Laysan albatross eat bottle caps and lighters, then feed that “food” to their chicks; leatherback sea turtles confuse plastic bags for jellies, a favorite food; and migrating humpback whales get tangled up in plastic ropes, lines and nets lost by commercial fishermen.Learn more

How We Can Help

Plastics that start out many miles from the ocean can still make their way out to sea through storm drains, rivers and sewers. But there are things we can do to help reduce our pollution. Simple changes like switching from plastic bags and bottles to reusable ones, recycling used plastic and using less plastic can have a positive impact on the health of our oceans and the animals that live there. While it’s not possible to collect all the trash floating in the open ocean, we can help to stem our plastic tide.