A New Look for the 'MTK' Sign

In time for the summer season, Visit Montauk and the Montauk Chamber of Commerce have unveiled the 2024 design of its iconic “MTK” sign, which was recently completed by artist Sarah Schreck. Featuring a beach-inspired mosaic in white and blues, the winning concept was chosen from the many submissions the executive team at the chamber received and reviewed.

Schreck’s painting depicts the fauna and flora of the area (including the Montauk daisy, seaside goldenrod and other native plants) as well as the skyscape meeting the sea, while also drawing upon the number of outdoor activities that make the destination hum, such as surfing, hiking and biking. These motifs are all tied together through Schreck’s use of familiar hues and colors. The color scheme is not only nautical and summery, but also pays homage to the wampum beads, made from quahog shells, used as a payment system by the Indigenous Montaukett people.

Sarah Schreck, originally from Orlando, Florida, is a full-time graphic designer, regular yoga teacher and occasional playwright. She tries to keep up her art practice in the midst of many, ever-evolving side passions. When she’s not in Montauk, she lives in New Haven.

“I have been spending summers in Montauk for the past number of years through my partner Jack and his family, and my love for the community has only continued to grow,” said Schreck. “I try to pack as much as I can into my schedule while I’m here, much like I tried to pack as much as I could onto the sign, to show the many dimensions of Montauk. I can’t express my gratitude enough to Jack, his family, and the friends I’ve made out here who make this place so special — and for exposing the magic of the place to me in the first place.”

“Each season, we get very excited to put out the call to the community to invite them to share with us concepts and creative ideas for our welcome sign,” said Mariah Miltier, executive director for the Chamber and Visit Montauk. “From the many proposals we received, Sarah’s stood out as not only visually striking but, the more you look at it, the more the motifs and elements that make Montauk so special pop-out to viewers. It is full of little Easter eggs to charm visitors.”

“Montauk is such a vibrant community and destination, and we get incredibly energized to show off the talents of both our locals and steadfast visitors each season,” continued Miltier.

The “MTK” letters serve as a billboard for Montauk, and, over the years, they have established themselves as a popular backdrop for scores of selfies shared across social media.