Seal’d with Art: Plymouth Harbor Seals

While taking a walk around downtown Plymouth, MA, I saw several pieces from the art installation Seal’d with Art: Plymouth Harbor Seals. This is the third time the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce has given the opportunity for local businesses to sponsor artists in creating a themed sculpture, the first two being lobsters and seashells. The seals debuted in Spring 2025 and remain on display through Fall 2027, so you have plenty of time to see this whimsical art. Below are my favorite seals out of the twenty-five in the exhibition.

A sunset colored seal statue with the Pilgrim Maiden statue on its side A sunset colored seal statue with a dog and a butterfly on the front A sunset colored seal statue with Mayflower II painted on its back.

The sunset-themed statue Brewster features sites of Plymouth, including Mayflower II and the Pilgrim Maiden statue, along with cute animals and flowers. The artist, Melissa Elsasser-Holmes of Plymouth, runs her own art business AmazinkCreations.

A yellow submarine themed seal statue with portholes to show ocean animals and a lighthouse A yellow submarine themed seal statue with a porthole showing a large fish. A seal statue painted with a vaguely Pilgrim costume

Jacques CouSeal features a yellow submarine-themed seal with windows showing the wonders of the ocean off the coast of New England, including fish, lobsters, and a lighthouse. The artist, Timothy Basil Ering of Kingston, MA, is an experienced author-illustrator whose works include the illustrations for Newbury-award winning The Tale of Desperaux. Another well-known figure to receive the seal pun treatment is Myles Seal'dish, created by Scotty Hokanson of Plymouth & the Crew from Second Nature, a program that helps autistic children practice social skills. The seal featured a large belt buckle around its middle, perhaps inspired by the romanticized depiction of a Pilgrim hat.

A seal statue painted with overalls and a red t-shirt. A seal statue painted with a blue three-piece suit. A painted seal statue with a giant wave and a sea goddess with hair full of butterflies.

Near the visitor center was Bob the Builder by Terry Kole, a children’s book illustrator originally from Detroit who took inspiration from a British kids TV show. Barry the Banking Seal, appropriately sponsored by North Eastern Savings Bank and painted by Lois Whitaker. Pearl by Keith Favazza featured a giant wave reminiscent of The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai, along with what appeared to be a sea goddess with hair full of butterflies.

A seal statue painted with a tree growing pink flowers A painted seal statue covered in paint swatches emerging from a paint bucket. A painted seal statue wearing a blue-and-white striped shirt and bright yellow jacket with green fish hopping out of the pockets.

I loved the colors of the tree with pink blossoms painted onto Winny by Elizabeth Ames. She and her daughter, Ellie Bejar-Benz, are Peruvian artists who now own their own art studio and gallery in Acton, MA. Another clever pun was Rhino Seal'd sponsored by paint company Rhino Shield of New England and painted by Kara Andrews of Middleborough, MA, who runs Art on the Spot Fine Art Studio and Face Painting. My favorite outfit was worn by LuSeal, created by Jan Walsh of Plymouth. She wore a blue-and-white striped shirt and bright yellow jacket with green fish hopping out of the pockets.

A painted seal featuring cute illustrations of sea life. A painted seal statue featuring a cheery garden path lined with flowers, adorable cottage, and pair of gnomes fishing in a puddle A pair of gnomes fishing in a puddle

Coming to the end of the list, One Big Beautiful Seal featured not only a great pun and cute illustrations of sea life but also a great artist name, Cathy McCarthy. Last but not least was Briar Rosealyn, The Ethereal Seal by Elizabeth Magoun. The cheery garden path lined with flowers, an adorable cottage, and a pair of gnomes fishing in a puddle made this one of my favorite seals, and a great way to end my birthday trip to Plymouth.

Location: Plymouth, MA, USA