A life-size statue of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis lasted barely an hour in the Tallahassee heat before his face melted away, exposing a skull underneath. The unusual spectacle was no accident. It was designed to deliver a political message just weeks before climate embattled Florida voters choose his successor.
The silver-colored sculpture, unveiled in the state capital, was made entirely of gallium, a metal that begins melting at 85.6 degrees Fahrenheit (29.8 Celsius), a temperature regularly exceeded during Florida summers.
As the metal dissolved, DeSantis' features disappeared, leaving behind a skeletal figure. The installation, called "DENIAL," was created by environmental advocacy organization 350 Action, creative studio Uncommon and production company M ss ng P eces to criticize the Republican governor's record on climate change.
The timing was deliberate. DeSantis is approaching the end of his second term in January 2027, and Florida voters will elect a new governor on November 3.
The sculpture was also a reference to one of his most controversial environmental decisions.
In May 2024, DeSantis signed House Bill 1645, legislation that removed references to climate change from parts of Florida law, eliminated certain renewable-energy provisions and shifted the state's energy priorities toward affordability and reliability.
The governor celebrated the legislation at the time, declaring on X: "We're restoring sanity in our approach to energy and rejecting the agenda of the radical green zealots."
The organizers chose gallium specifically because its melting point falls below Tallahassee's average summer high temperature.
On the day of the unveiling, temperatures climbed above 89 degrees, according to advertising publication Muse by Clios, which interviewed Uncommon's chief creative officer Sam Shepherd about the project.
"It took about an hour," Shepherd said of the statue's transformation.
The installation required 3D scanning and printing to reproduce DeSantis' appearance before the sculpture was cast in gallium. The melting process was intended to illustrate how physical conditions persist regardless of political positions.
Why Climate Activists Chose DeSantis
DeSantis has repeatedly rejected climate policies he considers economically damaging or ideologically driven, even as Florida confronts some of the country's most significant environmental risks. In 2018, during his first campaign for governor, he declared, "I am not a global warming person, I don't want that label on me."
His administration has emphasized hurricane preparedness, infrastructure resilience and energy costs while resisting policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists have established that human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, is driving global warming. Rising temperatures are contributing to higher sea levels and intensifying rainfall and other weather extremes, creating substantial risks for Florida's coastal communities.
South Florida is especially vulnerable to sea-level rise, while hurricane damage and insurance costs have become increasingly serious concerns across the state.
For 350 Action, the melting sculpture offered a way to connect those risks to the governor's political legacy.
"The climate crisis is one of the top issues facing our planet today. And yet, some candidates running for office still deny it's happening, and deny the bold climate action that the people want," said Candice Fortin, the organization's campaign manager. Fortin urged voters to reject candidates who dismiss climate science at the ballot box.
The installation also comes as Republican Rep. Byron Donalds campaigns to succeed DeSantis. He has expressed support for protecting Florida's environment but has questioned the connection between human activity and climate change, putting him at odds with the scientific consensus.
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