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The first thing you will notice about the medal ribbon which Miami artist Nicolas Vasquez created for the 2024 Life Time Miami Marathon on January 28 are the 3D images of the lush array of plant life that is found in the tropical climate of South Florida.
“I wanted to create a motif of 3D plant designs showcasing some of these plants with their intricate forms,” Vasquez said. “I sought to capture the essence of Miami’s biodiversity by infusing the designs with an organic and vibrant energy, reflecting the life that surrounds the runners.
“Our city is known for its harmonious blend of bright hues and smooth gradients. From the blues of the ocean to the pinks of a sunset, our ribbons celebrate the diverse colors that define the city.”
For more than a decade, participants completing the Life Time Miami Marathon, Half Marathon, Tropical 5K and Kids Run Miami events have taken home a piece of collectible artwork. Life Time (NYSE: LTH), the event’s owner and producer, selects Miami-based artists each year to custom design the finisher medal ribbon.
This year Vasquez, a rising 30-year-old with Colombian roots, got the nod. His love for making art came from his mother who would build architectural scale models and give him cut-outs of cardboard and paper to play with. He glued them together and created new shapes and textures and before he knew, he was also working with clay, painting, and digital art.
Vasquez moved to Miami in 2013 to attend Florida International University and graduated in 2017 with a Masters in Architecture. Thats when he started Vaco Studio which specializes in digital 3D art and traditional painting. Vaco Studio has emerged as a creative hub that fosters collaboration and innovation among artists and designers.
The flavor of his work is represented in the Life Time Miami Marathon medal ribbons in the form of the plant motifs interacting with the sun-shaped spinner 2024 Finisher Medal to create an illusion of a sunrise. Different segments of the race course map have been overlaid with mile markers to offer runners a visual overview of the route they conquered as they ran Miami.
“I was very honored to be selected to take part in the design of these ribbons for something that so many people see as a life objective,” Vasquez said. “It is definitely a huge honor and the fact that I live here in Miami and get to show up at the race and participate in a different way is definitely an honor.”
Vasquez is also starting his own running journey now. He began running once or twice a week in the past year and covers three to four miles each time. Now he plans to participate in the Life Time Tropical 5K, the marathon weekend warm-up race which will be held January 27 from Watson Island to the southern tip of Miami Beach.
“I will get to get one of the medals which I designed,” Vasquez said.
Eighteen thousand runners from across the globe will descend upon Miami for the race and finishers of the world-renowned event will be graced with Vasquez’ creation. He joins a line of elite local artists who have designed the neck ornament for the marathon, including:
· Peter Tunney
· Rigo Leon
· Bernard Zyscovich
· Jenny Perez
· Romero Britto
· Luis Valle
“The Miami Marathon medals have long been an iconic element of our event, but the ribbons are where the real story lies,” said Nicole Bostick, Associate Marketing Director at Life Time. “For the past decade, local artists have designed our ribbons based on their individual interpretations and love of our city. Their amazing renditions never fail to wow us, and we’re thrilled to unveil the 2024 edition.”
About Life Time, Inc.
Life Time (NYSE: LTH) empowers people to live healthy, happy lives through its portfolio of 170 athletic country clubs across the United States and Canada. The Company’s healthy way of life communities and ecosystem address all aspects of healthy living, healthy aging and healthy entertainment for people 90 days to 90+ years old. Supported by a team of more than 35,000 dedicated professionals, Life Time is committed to providing the best programs and experiences through its clubs, iconic athletic events and comprehensive digital platform.
