At Island of Lost Buoys, we celebrate the beauty of forgotten objects transformed into art. Our journey began with a passion for recycling and creativity, bringing new life to items that would otherwise be lost.
A Bahamian island where a gnarled "Naming
Tree" stands tall, embellished with messages on
driftwood, buoys, and even toilet brushes. Atop
a hill, a driftwood treehouse beckons, whispering tales of
pirates. This fantastical art wasn't born of carelessness, but
play and curiosity. Over the years visitors transformed flotsam
and jetsam into whimsical art; left messages for future travelers;
and established a place where creativity, inclusivity, community,
and self-reliance were the norm.
This is the Island of Lost Buoys , a place where “Leave No
Trace” becomes "Reimagine and Reinvent
(R&R)". Here, we see what others
discard holds boundless possibility for persistent, if not
radical, reinvention.
https://islandoflostbuoys.art/
| https://vimeo.com/341407192 | https://youtube.com/shorts/F7ApRgks7hA?feature=share |
Now Imagine a mirage shimmering in the heat
and dust of the Playa. A pirate flag beckons, leading you to an
island. This isn't just any island; It’s the Island of Lost
Buoys rising from the Playa - built in testament to creativity
and adventure. It's a playground of repurposed treasures --
memory foam, fabric, fishing floats and buoys, plastics of all
types, and flags find new life as building blocks for our Island
of Lost Buoys.
There is a joy in finding this oasis, a
warmth in making new friends, and a thrill in swinging in the
hammock and climbing to the crows nest. Our 2024 offering
explores the boundless wonder of childhood fueled by imagination
and delight. The Island of Lost Buoys recreates that childlike
revelry and connection for every Burner who visits our desert shores.
Rebuilding the Buoys for Burning Man 2025
The Island of Lost Buoys is coming back to the playa—bigger, brighter, and more surreal than before! This beloved art oasis is an escape full of shade, sound, color, and connection... but after a dusty break, it needs a full makeover!
We’re on a mission to bring back the magic of our beach with a budget of $18,500! Picture this: brand- new shade sails, solar lights that light up the night, ambient sound that sets the mood, palm trees swaying in the breeze, upgraded cushions that are comfy and supportive, and plenty of love to make sure everyone feels safe and happy.
Join us in bringing this floating fever dream back to life—and get some delightfully quirky thank-you perks along the way.
We appreciate your support to restore magic to the Playa!
Perks
Ever wanted to go down in history? Become the stuff of legends? We will write you into your very own sea shanty and play it loud clear throughout the week over the audio system! I can hear the siren song now...
You will receive a copy of the track so you may play it on repeat to your heart's delight.
Highlights
See all activity9🏝️ V2.0 - BRC 2025
V2.0 - BRC 2025 Design Goal
The Island of Lost Buoys isn’t just an art installation—it’s a surreal escape, a place of laughter, connection, color, and calm in the middle of the chaos. After a dusty hiatus, we’re ready to bring it back to the playa—bigger, brighter, and more buoyant than ever before.
To transform this floating mirage of oddball buoys and beach bliss into an even more immersive experience, we’re raising funds for critical upgrades and new magical touches:
- 🏖️ New Shade Sails – Bigger, more vibrant, and essential for daytime chill
- 🌴 Palm Trees – Because every island needs its flora (even in the desert)
- 🌈 Colorful Lighting – Solar-powered, playa-proof, and beautifully weird
- 🔊 Ambient Soundscape – Gentle waves, distant steel drums, buoy bells—pure sonic joy
- 🧼 Repair & Rebuild Materials – Wood, fabric, hardware, paint, LED kits & love...As every burner knows- the elements are hard on all our projects out there!
- 🎪 LIVE Aerial performance: Fingers crossed that we will hit our goal so we can build a structure that will support the weight of humans swinging from the rigging!
| https://youtu.be/u5ilqN652s4 | https://youtu.be/wGbR1ldA8VI |
Are you an aerialist yourself? You can join our airborne crew of motley rigging monkeys! Click here to register your interest.
Our Sponsors:
We want to thank our patron saints who have already pledged to support us come hell or high water!
Thank you to Destino Ranch for being the permanent home of the Island! |
ABI Create will be contributing much needed logistical support and the experienced design and build team to execute on the v2.0 goals of the Island. |
Sam plays a pivotal role in design and concept renderings for the project. We are happy to reunite with Sam for all of our artwork. |
We are not selling stuff—we’re building experiences. But we also want to thank you!
- $20+: A special thank you card with the original art design of the island!
- $50+: Your name carved on a buoy swag trinket (or a weird nickname, your call) PLUS thank you card
- $100+: Access to our behind-the-scenes build journey (photos & updates), plus buoy swag trinket , PLUS thank you card
- $250+: Custom Island of Lost Buoys official flag & buoy swag from the island, AAAAND access to the exclusiv blog and thank you card
- $500+: We’ll name a palm tree after you, an official flag and buoy swag, and a thank you card!
- $1000+: Your very own Legendary Sea Shanty and a Toast in your name! Plus all the swag mentioned above!
The Island of Lost Buoys is a symbol of joy, absurdity, and sanctuary. Whether you’ve found your way there in the past or hope to stumble across it this year, your support ensures it returns to inspire and delight.
From the bottom of our sandy, salty hearts—thank you!
See you on the playa. 💛💞💛
👷🏻♀️The Crew
Art begins with a spark of imagination, a few lines drawn on paper. In the case of large art it involves sharing those ideas with other creative people. When they are inspired too is when the something wonderful can happen. Meet our enormously talented team.
Lillian Byrne Heyward | Lead Artist If asked how I got to this point in life I would say "Mostly by Boat". From my summer job at art school working on a Swedish passenger/car ferry sailing between the US and Canada, 3 Atlantic crossings in a 60' North Sea trawler built in 1932, a season working on a shrimp boat in Beaufort, South Carolina, and presently spending the cold months on our 27' sailboat exploring the islands of the Abacos in the Bahamas.All things follow each other... the car ferry led me to Sweden, Sweden led to my first boat and Beaufort SC, which led to the shrimp boat that gave me money to open a sign company and design studio. The loss of that by fire led me to work in film, first as a sign-writer then graphic designer for the past 25 years. Friendships in film led me to Burning Man and Sam, whose boundless enthusiasm helped me fuse the project to make it both environmental and fun!. Sam led me to Make it Weird in Phoenix Arizona. That is where many of our talented team create and that is where Island of Lost Buoys is being built. So when thinking of what art I could bring to Burning Man I decided to focus on what touched me in a lifetime of sailing and appreciating creativity in others. The "Naming" tree and the Island of Lost Buoys. | Marco Antonio Moreno | Metal Magician and Fabricator I am not an artist. In January of 2015, I stumbled onto what would become a newfound passion for creating. I don’t really consider myself an artist. It surprises me to this day how much I love creating and building big works. I found myself spending my days and nights deeply focused on improving my new craft. The acronym for my company is ABI meaning Always Be Improving.
https://abicreate.com/ | Sam Ogden | Concept Artist and designer of The Big Buoy Sam Ogden is a traveling creative, currently based in Los Angeles, but frequently splitting time between LA, PHX, and the east coast working as a set designer on location for television shows. Growing up in Cary, NC, Ogden graduated from UNC School Of The Arts in 2011 and has worked in film/television production since then. His first project out of school he worked as a carpenter on the first Hunger Games movie. Attending Burning Man for the first time in 2015 with Camp Walter, he quickly caught the burn bug, and since then, has designed and helped build two art cars: Headspace and Simon the Turtle, and now his first art installation with the Island Of Lost Buoys. Sam hopes to continue to design, build, and explore interactive and festival art as well as film production design and travel around the world. |
Tim Callahan | Engineer and Architect Present at BRC in 2007 & 2016, this is Tim’s first full involvement in an art installation at Burning Man.He is a yacht Design Engineer and was the founder and principal of Alembic Studio, LLC-a firm pioneering PassivHaus hempcrete residential designs in North America. He is grateful to Lillian Byrne Heyward, a friend of many years, for her inspiration for the Island of Lost Buoys. | Jessica Perry | Circus Artist and Marketing Consultant Jessica Perry is an internationally
recognized aerialist
Available for corporate events and entertainment
She spent the pandemic developing a new
act on the
| Marisa McGuire | Fiber Artist I’m a Phoenix based artist/event planner who loves costumes and working with found/unconventional materials. Although it began as a necessity due to the need to constantly be making something and not having much of a budget, it is now a point of pride to be able to take something languishing and be able to give it new life. I’m honored to be a part of bringing this project home. This will be my third burn, and every year I am able to contribute more than the last. I originally got involved volunteering with Walter Tribe locally after pining for burning man for years and in 2017 while helping build Simon the Turtle I was told “This is your year." I had to go at least once so I made it happen. I drank the koolaid and it tasted so good that in 2018 I spent 5 weeks helping build 6 shipping container bunk houses and participated in my first build week as part of Playa Alchemist’s Pyramid build team. The magic of watching the city grow from nothing and contributing to its creation was not lost on me. Now I can’t imagine any other way to burn. |
Jesse Quinn In 2024, Jesse returns to the Playa for the third time. He will be leading up the build and logistics for the island this year. His Burning Man journey began in 2019, where he helped build and care for our beloved Island of Lost Buoys. In 2022, he was the electrician and lighting lead for the Disturb My Slumber art piece. A veteran sailor, Jesse has first hand knowledge of the "Naming Tree" in the Bahamas. He's not just a Burner, he's also a founding member of the Manjack art trail, a testament to his passion for leaving a lasting creative mark where ever he travels. | Kimana Littleflower Kimana/ Katniss' first burn was at BM 2022 as a part of build crew/ kitchen lead for the art installation Disturb my slumber. She loved nourishing her team mates and burners alike and learned quickly that playa dust just adds seasoning. She has been a part of several regional burns creating kitchen spaces and meals to feel fellow art builders and burners. She has also traveled to the inspiration location in the Bahamas and is excited to help bring it back to the playa! | Dr. Chris Vonderheide Medical and spiritual healer and five time Burning Man veteran. Co-founder of the Manjack Art Trail. Assemblage artist of recycled repurposed objects. World traveler and lover of all things great and small. He was a part of building the island in 2019. We are excited to have his whirlwind of passion, creativity and expertise join us on this endeavor. We will try to live us to his WOWWW NOWWW sentiment :) |
Kevin Kingsley This will be Kevins' first burn but has learned quick and is doing it right. He was inspired to participate by family who has been in prior years and had this on his bucket list. We crossed paths in the Bahamas at the right place at the right time and the rest is history. We are excited to have him along in this journey to create magic! | Stephen Murray This will be Stephens second time returning home. He made it through mud burn 2023 and couldn't get enough. He is an active member of local burns around his home in SC. He also has worked to make positive changes in his local community. He is also the kazoo king! He owns a kazoo museum and manufacturing company. We are very happy to have his great attitude and leadership in creating the Island! | Dan Vargas and Krista Wilson This dynamic duo has also sailed the Bahamas extensively and have been to the place where the idea behind the IOLB began. Dan has been to burning man in 2022 and this will be Kristas' first burn. These 2 bring the party wherever they go and have planned many large scale, very creative and ornate events. Their energy, positivity, and caring mentality will be crucial for the long build days!
If you’ve made it this far… remember to ask for a special gift on playa… 😉 “Ask Marco where X marks the spot?” 🏴☠️ |
Renee Orth Renee is a veteran burner of 9 years at the big burn and is a founding member of the regional Emergence in Charleston, SC. She lives the 10 principles every day and is excited to be a part of her first large-scale art installation on playa. She is also leading up the amazing camp we are all joining called End of The Line. She has created and lent her hand to many humanitarian efforts and is a leading force in her communities for the support and growth of everyone. She has been so helpful and generous to allow our pirate crew to join her well established camp. We are grateful for all of her effort thus far and can't wait to build The Island together! |
Activity
Ever wanted to go down in history? Become the stuff of legends? We will write you into your very own sea shanty and play it loud clear throughout the week over the audio system! I can hear the siren song now...
You will receive a copy of the track so you may play it on repeat to your heart's delight.
