Safe Haven — Mikael B
Mikael B · roof terrace of the former SLS Brickell hotel (now Dua Miami), 1300 S. Miami Ave., Brickell, Miami, USA
Photo: as published by Street Art Utopia (uploaded November 2019, used again in the Street Art Utopia post); the photographer is not named. The same photograph is published on Mikael B’s own Projects page (online since February 2018), so it shows his 2017 paint. Full photograph shown.
Danish artist Mikael B covered the Philippe Starck duck sculpture on the SLS Brickell roof terrace in his sharp geometric style for his solo show Awake, and it was unveiled when the show opened during Art Basel Miami on 7 December 2017. Mikael B: Art Shows · Wikipedia: Mikael Brandrup · I Support Street Art, 19 Feb 2018 Checked He titled it Safe Haven. The duck stayed on the roof, but by December 2022 it had been reimagined by another artist, Lola Blu. Amsterdam Street Art, 14 Apr 2018 · World Red Eye, 4 Dec 2022 Checked
4 things to know
- A designer duck as a canvasSLS Brickell, which housed the Awake exhibition, gave Mikael B its Philippe Starck duck sculpture to decorate; it was revealed on the opening night. The artist’s own photo shows him working on it with a spray can. Mikael B: Art Shows · Mikael B: Projects · Wikipedia: Mikael Brandrup Checked
- He called it Safe HavenIn a 2018 interview Mikael B said he titled the sculpture “Safe Haven”, symbolizing “the journey from where we are now and where we are striving to be”, and that it was inspired by his many dives in the oceans. Amsterdam Street Art, 14 Apr 2018 Checked
- Painted for the oceansAwake was a collaboration with Lonely Whale, the ocean nonprofit led by actor Adrian Grenier, about plastic pollution in the oceans. The artist says all profits from the exhibition and a print release went to Lonely Whale. Mikael B: Charity · Mikael B: Art Shows · Wikipedia: Mikael Brandrup · I Support Street Art, 19 Feb 2018 Checked
- A duck that changes its paintThe hotel duck gets a yearly makeover by a guest artist, in collaboration with Art Basel Miami. On 4 December 2022 the hotel revealed it reimagined by Lola Blu, covered in her own colourful pattern instead of Mikael B’s facets. The Luxury Editor, 13 Jun 2023 · World Red Eye, 4 Dec 2022 · Global Traveler, 30 Mar 2023 Checked
Where it is
- 📍
- On the rooftop pool deck of the hotel at 1300 S. Miami Ave. in Brickell, Miami. It opened as SLS Brickell and has been called Dua Miami, Autograph Collection since March 2024. Miami New Times, 26 Jul 2024 · Wikipedia: SLS Brickell · Mikael B: Charity Checked
- 🦆
- Mikael B’s version is gone: the duck was reimagined by Lola Blu in December 2022 and was still on the pool deck in 2023 reviews, in another artist’s paint. World Red Eye, 4 Dec 2022 · The Luxury Editor, 13 Jun 2023 · Global Traveler, 30 Mar 2023 Checked
- 🔑
- It stands on a private hotel roof deck, not on the street. In 2024 Miami New Times reported day passes for locals on ResortPass from $30. Miami New Times, 26 Jul 2024 Reported
- 🗺️
- Google Street View has only street-level panoramas here (August 2024), which show the hotel entrance but not the roof, so the button opens a plain map of the hotel. Checked
Sightings
- 20177 Dec
Unveiled at the Awake opening
- 201819 Feb
Reported: a 10 ft Starck sculpture
- 201814 Apr
Artist names it Safe Haven
- 20224 Dec
Repainted: reveal of Lola Blu’s duck
- 202313 Jun
Yearly makeover by a guest artist
- 202426 Jul
Hotel renamed Dua Miami
Every stamp links to its source. The amber stamps are reports: Wikipedia’s date for the unveiling at the Awake opening, the 2018 report and interview, a 2023 hotel review that describes the duck’s yearly makeover, and the 2024 report of the hotel’s new name. The red stamp is World Red Eye’s photo report of 4 December 2022, whose photos show the same duck repainted by Lola Blu. We found no dated photo of Mikael B’s version later than the 2017 opening.
On the record
My life in pieces: Mikael B
“I titled the sculpture “Safe Haven”. It’s designed by Philippe Starck. Symbolizing the journey from where we are now and where we are striving to be.”
Awake, 2017, SLS Brickell, Miami
“SLS Brickell, who housed the exhibition, had also given Mikael the honor of decorating their iconic Philippe Starck sculpture, depicting a duck, which was revealed on the opening night to the joy of a large crowd of attendants.”
SLS Brickell – Art Week Sunset Closing Party with Artist Lola Blu
“SLS Brickell caps off Miami Art Week with a rooftop sunset soiree and grand reveal of their iconic Philippe Starck duck sculpture reimagined by local artist Lola Blu.”
The facts
- Title
- Safe Haven, the title Mikael B gave it in a 2018 interview. His own site and the press call it the Philippe Starck duck sculpture. Amsterdam Street Art, 14 Apr 2018 · Mikael B: Projects Checked
- Artist
- Mikael B (Mikael Brandrup), Danish artist based in Los Angeles, known for geometric murals and canvases. Wikipedia: Mikael Brandrup · Amsterdam Street Art, 14 Apr 2018 Checked
- Object
- A Philippe Starck duck sculpture owned by the hotel; Mikael B painted its surface. The artist’s photo shows him using spray paint. Mikael B: Projects · Mikael B: Art Shows · Wikipedia: Mikael Brandrup · I Support Street Art, 19 Feb 2018 Checked
- Unveiled
- 7 December 2017, at the opening of Awake during Art Basel Miami. The date comes from Wikipedia, which cites the Facebook event; the artist’s site says “opening night”, and the Commons photo of him at the show is dated 7 December 2017. Wikipedia: Mikael Brandrup · Mikael B: Art Shows · Wikimedia Commons photo, 7 Dec 2017 Checked
- Height
- 10 ft (about 3 m). I Support Street Art, 19 Feb 2018 Reported
- Exhibition
- Awake, Mikael B’s solo show at SLS Brickell, with Lonely Whale and Adrian Grenier, about plastic pollution in the oceans. Mikael B: Art Shows · Mikael B: Charity · Wikipedia: Mikael Brandrup Checked
- Benefit
- All profits from the exhibition and a print release sold on the artist’s webshop went to Lonely Whale. Mikael B: Charity · Wikipedia: Mikael Brandrup · I Support Street Art, 19 Feb 2018 Checked
- Place
- Roof terrace (pool deck) of SLS Brickell, 1300 S. Miami Ave., Brickell, Miami; the hotel was renamed Dua Miami in 2024. About 25.76114, -80.19382. Mikael B: Charity · Wikipedia: Mikael Brandrup · Miami New Times, 26 Jul 2024 · Wikipedia: SLS Brickell Checked
- Status
- Gone: photos dated 4 December 2022 show the duck reimagined by Lola Blu. When Mikael B’s paint was replaced is not known; the duck has a yearly makeover by a guest artist. World Red Eye, 4 Dec 2022 · The Luxury Editor, 13 Jun 2023 Checked
- Our photo
- As published by Street Art Utopia (uploaded November 2019); the photographer is not named. It is the same photograph the artist shows on his own Projects page (online since February 2018). Mikael B: Projects Checked
Related
- Florida Made Me Look Twice (9 Photos): the SAU collection with this duck and eight other Miami-area works
- Street Art by Mikael B (5 Photos): more of Mikael B’s work on Street Art Utopia
All sources (14)
Artist
- Mikael B: “Art Shows”. Awake (2017, SLS Brickell, Miami): Lonely Whale, Adrian Grenier, the Starck duck revealed on the opening night.
- Mikael B: “Projects”. “2017 // SLS Brickell”: the Starck duck he decorated, with his photo of the work in progress.
- Mikael B: “Charity”. Lonely Whale Campaign 2017: Awake at SLS Brickell during Miami Art Basel 2017, the duck “located on the SLS roof terrace”, profits to Lonely Whale.
Press
- Amsterdam Street Art: “My life in pieces: Mikael B”, 14 April 2018. The artist on Sculpture project “Safe Haven” (2017, Miami): the title and its meaning.
- I Support Street Art: “Art Share LA Opens New Chapter With Mural by Artist Mikael B.”, Tomás Cardoso, 19 February 2018. The December solo show at SLS Brickell and the 10 ft Starck sculpture for Lonely Whale.
- World Red Eye: “SLS Brickell – Art Week Sunset Closing Party with Artist Lola Blu”, photos by Alex Enescu, 4 December 2022. The reveal of the duck reimagined by Lola Blu.
- Global Traveler: “Review: SLS Brickell Miami”, Christyn Pek, 30 March 2023. A giant duck at the western edge of the roof, being decorated by an artist for Art Basel.
- The Luxury Editor: “SLS Brickell Hotel & Residences Review”, 13 June 2023. The duck “gets a yearly makeover by a guest artist”.
- Miami New Times: “SLS Brickell Gets New Name and Vibe”, Jesse Scott, 26 July 2024. Renamed Dua Miami in late March 2024; address 1300 S. Miami Ave.; rooftop day passes.
Photos
- Wikimedia Commons: “Mikael Brandrup at SLS Brickwell AWAKE.jpg”, Mikael B Inc., CC BY 2.0, dated 7 December 2017. The artist at the Awake show; the duck is not in the photo.
Records
- Wikipedia: “Mikael Brandrup”. Awake opened at SLS Brickell on 7 December 2017; the duck unveiled on the hotel rooftop at the opening (citing the Facebook event).
- Wikipedia: “SLS Brickell”. The building at 1300 South Miami Avenue, completed in 2016.
Street Art Utopia
- Street Art Utopia: “Florida Made Me Look Twice (9 Photos)”, 21 October 2026. The SAU post with this photo.
- Street Art Utopia: “Street Art by Mikael B (5 Photos)”, 5 February 2024. More work by the artist.
Artwork File · Last checked 21 October 2026 · Certainty labels follow How We Verify Art · All Artwork Files