How It's Made: The FLY Miami Studio Process
Every Piece Handmade in Miami. Never Mass Produced.
FLY Miami Art doesn't have a factory. It has a studio — a single space in Miami where artist Facundo Yebne makes every piece himself, by hand, one at a time. This is what that process looks like.
Step 1: The Concept
Every piece begins with a feeling, not a plan. Facundo draws on the themes at the core of FLY Miami Art — peace, love, joy, unity — and asks: What does this look like today? A geopolitical moment. A conversation overheard at the beach. A color combination seen at sunset on Ocean Drive. The concept emerges from living in Miami, one of the most culturally layered cities in the world.
Step 2: The Materials
FLY Miami Art works with a range of materials depending on the piece:
- Rubber duck sculptures — Individual rubber ducks are carefully positioned, bonded, and assembled into large-scale installations and smaller collectible works. Each duck is placed with intention.
- UV-reactive pigments — Facundo uses professional-grade UV-reactive paints and resins that are invisible under white light but ignite under blacklight. These are sourced and tested carefully to ensure the glow effect is consistent and long-lasting.
- Resin and mixed media — Many wall art pieces use layered resin pours combined with acrylic paint, glitter, and embedded elements that create depth and texture.
Step 3: The Making
The actual creation process varies by piece type. For rubber duck installations, Facundo designs the composition on paper first, then begins the physical assembly — positioning, bonding, and checking the structural integrity of each section. For UV paintings, he works in layers: a base composition painted under white light, followed by carefully applied UV-reactive layers that are only visible under blacklight.
Every layer is allowed to cure fully before the next is applied. There are no shortcuts. A single medium-sized piece can take 40–80 hours of studio time to complete.
Step 4: The Glow Test
Before any piece leaves the studio, it undergoes a glow test. Facundo takes the work into a darkened room and examines it under UV blacklight, checking that every UV-reactive element is performing as intended. This is the moment that separates FLY Miami Art from standard contemporary art — the transformation is either right, or the piece goes back to the studio.
Step 5: Signing and Numbering
When a piece is complete and approved, Facundo signs it. Each work is part of a strictly limited edition — the edition number and total are clearly documented. No piece in the FLY Miami Art catalog is ever reprinted or recreated. When an edition is sold out, it is permanently closed.
The certificate of authenticity is created at this stage, documenting the piece title, edition number, materials used, dimensions, and the date of completion.
Step 6: Packing and Shipping
FLY Miami Art ships worldwide from Miami. Every piece is individually wrapped and packed in custom protective materials. We photograph every piece before it leaves the studio. Art that travels needs to arrive the way it left: perfect.
The Studio Philosophy
Making art by hand is a commitment. It means accepting that you cannot scale by adding a machine. It means that the artist's energy — their mood, their intent, their care — goes into every piece. Facundo believes this is not a limitation. It is the most important thing about the work.
When you hold a FLY Miami Art piece, you are holding something a human being spent days creating with their hands. In a world of infinite digital reproduction, that matters.
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