There were a whole lot of amazing LEGO mosaic artworks at Brickworld Chicago in 2022, and one in particular that seemed extra special to me. Say hello to Carmen, a crowd favorite build by Lydia. Beyond being an adorable image of the family pet, what makes this art impressive is the age of the builder. She was nine. (Well, 11 now, but pandemic-related show delays are a thing.) It’s good to know that the future of the LEGO art world is already in capable hands.
The Brothers Brick contributor Chris Doyle has conspired with Alyse Middleton on another large-scale LEGO mosaic. Visiting the Spider-Verse, they created a mosaic tribute to Miles Morales.
If you’re like me (and I know I am), then you probably love the Into the Spider-Verse movie. Miles Morales quickly became my favorite take on the Spider-Man character, and I’d started (and abandoned) more than a few attempts to pay tribute to the character in LEGO form. Still, when I wanted to challenge myself and try a mosaic style that varied from the LEGO Art format I’d been working in, I decided Miles had to be the focus. Then I teamed up again with Alyse to make this new challenge a bit easier. Built on a 96×64 base of Technic brick, this images uses layers of plate and other elements to create an image in line with the animation style from the movie.
Builder Eero Okkonen taps into something that I think most LEGO fans can relate to: looking for a new way to use an old piece. Where Eero might differ from those of you reading this is in depicting that struggle as a tree. But this wonderful self-portrait turns a few pieces upside down to deliver a wonderful image of an Ent-like being confounded by a gear. It’s no surprise Eero’s self-portrait would be a fantasy creature looking for new parts usage. Check out our Eero Okkonen archives for a look at his past builds, and you’ll know what I mean.
After announcing it in February of last year as the next fan-designed set from their crowd-sourcing platform Ideas, LEGO is finally taking the wraps off the official set, letting us get our first look at 21333 Starry Night. The original project, depicting Vincent van Gogh’s famous 1889 painting of Saint-Rémy, France, was submitted by Hong Kong-based LEGO fan Truman Cheng (aka legotruman) back in July of 2020 before reaching the 10k votes threshold to be considered by LEGO just a month later. The final set contains 2,316 pieces and includes a framed version of the painting with sculptural elements to mimic the brush strokes, along with a minifigure of van Gogh and a miniature printed version of the painting on an easel. The set also represents a new licensing partnership between LEGO and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), which owns the artwork. The set will retail for US $159.99 | CAN $219.99 | UK £169.99 and will be available to LEGO VIP members starting May 25, with a general release on June 1.
Read the full press release and see more pictures below.
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LEGO is celebrating the 60th Anniversary of The Rolling Stones with a 3D rendition of their classic “Lips and Tongue” logo. LEGO Art 31206 The Rolling Stones is a 1998 piece set that will release in the UK on June 1st, followed by North America on August 1st, and will retail for US $149.99 | CAN $199.99 | UK £129.99. It’s a big departure from the other Rock and Roll Icons we’ve seen in the Art theme…and there are surprises in store for the curious builder. Come along as we take an early look at this unusual entry into the world of wall art!
The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.
When LEGO launched their Art theme it included a tile-based mosaic take on the iconic Marilyn Monroe panel-art by Andy Warhol. And that was pretty cool…back then. But now artist Michelle Krüger has placed her own unique spin on this classic image, adding texture that introduces an entirely new depth to things.
Starry Night is arguably one of Vincent Van Gogh’s most famous works (so much so that it’s going to be getting a LEGO set soon). lego_nuts, however, has chosen the painter’s Bedroom in Arles work as the setting for their latest masterpiece. Not content with simply recreating the artwork, front and center is a super facsimile of Van Gogh himself, hard at work on his easel. The sculpting of the whole scene is terrific, but the most striking aspect is the fascinating textures that are everywhere you look. The builder says this was a deliberate decision to replicate the signature post-impressionism look, and the result is a true work of art!
There’s no denying that these are trying times. If you’re like me, you could probably use a break to search for some inner peace. Dicken Liu (from Season 1 of LEGO MASTERS China) has built a lovely object for contemplation – the brick-built head of a Bodhisattva. The calm visage, carved from pristine white marble LEGO, is enhanced by golden accents. Clever part usage includes sea shells, Unikitty tails, and Ninjago sword tassels. The closer you look, the more this work rewards you.
Be sure to browse our features of other great art and sculpture creations by talented builders from around the globe.
In this time of strife pressing on the chest of the world, making it hard for all of us to breathe, there are people fighting for their lives and their land. Digital LEGO builder Chris Yu has joined countless others in showing support for the people of Ukraine as they fight off Putin’s mindless assault. The Brothers Brick staff stand with Chris in this testament of support. Simple color-blocking within the parts building this blue and yellow fist of power illustrates the strength of the Ukrainian people.
Major events like this make waves, and those waves wend their way through creative communities where expression of opinion and emotion reign. People inspired by the events of the world, like Chris Yu and others, make wonderful art worth sharing, not only for its message but also for the artistry in its execution. Our hearts go out to the Ukrainian and Russian families affected by this unfolding tragedy. We see your strength. May peace come swiftly to the hearts and minds of you all so that you may begin to move on with your lives as you wish.
One of the great things about LEGO is that there are so many creative ways to build. Some people navigate towards spaceships or castles. Some gravitate towards trains or buildings. And some explore the more esoteric fringes of artistic creativity with sculpture. Or, in this case, mosaics.
Over on Instagram, there’s been a lot of great art showing up in the #MosaicsOnMonday tag. We recently had a chance to sit down (virtually) with the innovators behind this challenge, and learn a bit about where this tag came from, where it is, and where it’s headed.
Some LEGO builds inspire moments of quiet contemplation. This elegant inked fan by Dad’s Bricks evokes that feeling for me. The life-sized shaping is excellent, and the delicate line work created by rods and slightly curved tubing offsets the the bright red of the flowers. Take a closer look and you can spot 1×1 heart tiles in pink, creating a tiny clovers of brightness to contrast to the rich colors. The pen, stand, and brush are almost afterthoughts – but they blend seamlessly into the full image and add real-world context to this piece of art.
![[LEGO] <桃園畫師 — 扇與梅> Ink painting - Fan and plum](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51859209558_efd9a1a742_b.jpg)
Be sure to check our archives for even more artistic expressions in plastic.
There’s a lot of excitement about LEGO Art mosaics right now, thanks in part to recent reveals of some cool upcoming DC Comics licensed LEGO art. But what if you’re more into creating your own LEO images? Well, LEGO has you covered there, too. LEGO Art 21226: Art Project – Create Together is available now from the LEGO Shop Online for US $119.99 | CAN $149.99 | UK £104.99. This 4138 piece set is designed to be shared between up to nine people, and includes designs for 36 different 1-panel designs, and a 9-panel Classic Spaceman “maxi-image”. Sounds fun, right? But is it? We bought a copy…come along and see what we found out!
