Miami Beach Sues Acclaimed Artist After $1.1M Public Art Pieces Fall Apart

The City of Miami Beach is suing an internationally acclaimed artist who was hired to create a colorful tiled artwork on the side of the Miami Beach Convention Center.

But just months after its completion in July 2019, the artwork made up of red, green, black, blue, white and pink tiles became a safety hazard when the ceramic squares suddenly began to crack and fall off the wall.

The city had to put a protective layer over parts of the artwork to prevent anyone from getting hurt when the tiles came loose and fell to the ground.

A complaint has now been filed against artist Sarah Morris and her company Parallax LLC, as well as two contractors involved in installing the mosaic, Home One Contractors Corporation and Moosally Construction. The city is seeking damages of more than $1 million.

Morris was awarded more than $1.1 million to design and install the abstract tile artwork dubbed “Morris Lapidus” on the north and east exterior walls of the convention center.

Sarah Morris is an internationally renowned artist, whose site-specific artworks have been installed and exhibited in leading cities, such as New York, Paris, Zurich, Basel, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and Bologna, and Miami Beach, pictured

Only months after completion in July 2019, colored tiles began to crack and fall

In a court case, seen by the Miami announcesholds the City of Morris and the contracted companies responsible for the problems with Morris essentially contractually obligated to repair any problems with the artwork for two years after installation.

Morris would have been instructed to examine the walls to ensure they were suitable for the project to begin with and then ensure the quality, completion and installation of the artwork.

But Parallax, Morris’ company, has responded in turn by blaming the design and construction of the walls of the Miami Beach Convention Center itself for the artwork’s problems.

Morris, a renowned painter and filmmaker based in New York, has an extensive portfolio consisting of international art exhibitions and public installations, although her website makes no mention of the Miami Beach Convention Center project.

Morris was commissioned by the city in October 2016 to create the installation as part of the convention center remodeling project.

The art installation became a safety hazard when tiles began to crack and fall off the wall

Nine months after completion, the artwork began to deteriorate in the spring of 2020, with the city reporting water damage, cracked tiles, grout issues and bulging

The artist paid tribute to Morris Lapidus, a notable architect known for designing iconic Miami landmarks, but there were several delays in the installation process, including problems with the tiles being the wrong size and having to be cut by hand.

The project was ultimately completed three months behind schedule. The installation would also come with an agreement that included a two-year warranty stipulating that Morris would bear the cost of repairs within that time frame.

But about nine months after completion, the artwork began to deteriorate in the spring of 2020, with the city reporting water damage, cracked tiles, grout problems and bulging.

In October, the tiles started falling off, forcing the city to take action.

Morris then hired two firms to investigate the artwork’s problems, while the city conducted its own investigation, with an engineer recommending the complete removal of all tiles due to serious problems with the east wall.

Artist Sarah Morris blames the construction company that built the walls of the convention center that they should be held responsible for the damage to her artwork placed on them

“Simply, if MBCC’s walls could not support the Artwork, it was the Artist’s contractual duty to notify the City before installing the Artwork and to design a means to mitigate this problem,” states the city’s lawsuit. “Artist did nothing, leading the city to believe the installation site was good and ready for the artwork.”

Through her attorney, Morris argues that the construction company that built the walls of the convention center should be held liable for the damage.

“Parallax is prepared to vigorously defend itself against all allegations of wrongdoing and looks forward to the resolution of this matter,” the company said through its attorneys, Soto Law Group. “Any damage to the ‘Morris Lapidus’ artwork is a direct result of problems surrounding the design and construction of the Miami Beach Convention Center itself.”

The attorney also stressed that Morris’s international reputation as an artist requires the city to remove the entire “Morris Lapidus” installation, claiming it cannot be displayed in its current state.

‘Mrs. Morris is an internationally renowned artist, whose site-specific artworks have been installed and exhibited in leading cities, such as New York, Paris, Zurich, Basel, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and Bologna, not to mention Miami Beach,” Soto Law said in a statement.

“CMB’s response to the damage to the ‘Morris Lapidus’ installation is an insult to the artist and to Miami Beach’s own standing among the leading cities hosting Ms. Morris’ work. Ms. Morris, the artwork and the city of Miami Beach deserve better.”

For now, the artwork will remain.