Art of the Brick Yellow by Nathan Sawaya by Chic n Cheap Living

Art Highlight: Art of the brick/LEGO® sculptures by Nathan Sawaya

May 21, 2013

What did you like to build with your  LEGO® bricks?

I gotta admit that I wasn’t very creative and mostly built houses/forts and perhaps an occasional car and I would just stick a little family inside.  There is a reason I didn’t seek a career as an artist…

But Nathan Sawaya, a former corporate lawyer had other ideas about what he could build with his LEGO® bricks.  This New Yorker saw his little colorful blocks as a medium for art and sculpting.
Art of the Brick Swimmer by Nathan Sawaya by Chic n Cheap LivingArt of the Brick entrance by Chic n Cheap LivingArt of the Brick quote by Nathan Sawaya by Chic n Cheap Living
He has created striking sculptures of the human form, famous buildings, and a 6-meter long T-rex skeleton.  It is fascinating to see how he has tried to create emotion and impart a sense of humanity to something most of us see as a childhood toy. I was lucky enough to attend this exhibit to see 52 of his sculptures.  The exhibit goes through May 26 in Singapore and I highly recommend it if it ever comes to your city!

Here are a few favorite pieces:
Masks and Transformation
Mask – what mask do you show to the world?
Art of the Brick Mask by Nathan Sawaya by Chic n Cheap Living
Ascension – what will lift you up? Success? Love? Fame?
Art of the Brick Ascension by Nathan Sawaya by Chic n Cheap Living
Yellow – How do you open yourself to the world?
Art of the Brick Yellow by Nathan Sawaya by Chic n Cheap Living

Whimsy and our world
Dinosaur skeleton – this is composed of over 80,000 bricks!
Art of the Brick Dinosaur Skeleton by Nathan Sawaya by Chic n Cheap Living

Shape and color
Inside – you are at first a shell and then fill in who you are inside.
Art of the Brick Inside by Nathan Sawaya by Chic n Cheap Living
Buildings

The ArtScience Museum (Nathan creates miniature replicas of famous buildings that are hosting the exhibit like the ArtScience Museum!)
Art of the Brick Artscience museum by Nathan Sawaya by Chic n Cheap Living
Doorway – step behind and outside of yourself
Art of the Brick Doorway by Nathan Sawaya by Chic n Cheap Living

The Portrait Artist
Janis – I love the detail and emotion here!
Art of the Brick Janis by Nathan Sawaya by Chic n Cheap Living
An artist’s view – an artist’s medium can sometimes be confused with reality!
Art of the Brick An Artist's view by Nathan Sawaya by Chic n Cheap Living

There were great interactive pieces throughout the exhibit as well so that one could attempt to build a cool piece as well. Or if you just want to relax – try some reflexology!
Art of the Brick refloxology by Nathan Sawaya by Chic n Cheap Living

I hope I can see more of his work in NYC.  His collaboration with Dean West “In Pieces” looked gorgeous.  Imagine wearing a dress made of LEGO® bricks!
in-pieces exhibit with Nathan Sawaya and Dean West - saved by Chic n Cheap Living

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  • A Very Sweet Blog May 21, 2013 at 02:12

    Omg’d this is frickin brilliant! My favorites are opening yourself up to the world and that red dress. He is awesome! Thanks for sharing girl! 😀

    • Chic 'n Cheap Living May 21, 2013 at 03:43

      Don’t you love these pieces Kim? I’m glad I also had the exhibit brochure so I could really understand his reasoning behind each sculpture.

  • Girlie Blogger May 21, 2013 at 02:27

    I hope you can work in NYC too. The Lego sculptures are amazing! I also like legos.

  • honeymyheart May 21, 2013 at 04:17

    oh wow, this is just amazing! so awesome to see how a simple childhood toy can become amazing art. i really like the dinosaur and fruit art.

  • Cafe Fashionista May 21, 2013 at 08:04

    That ‘In Pieces’ collab is epic – I am so in love! 🙂

    • Chic 'n Cheap Living May 21, 2013 at 12:47

      My husband and I were just talking about this – isn’t it crazy because he probably had to build the LEGO dress around the model! That must have taken a while!

  • Kim May 21, 2013 at 09:37

    This is such a cool exhibit! I love the red dress at the end, and the swimmer at the top 🙂

  • Kate May 21, 2013 at 10:58

    Oh, Lego!! I love the artist’s quote also. ;D Thanks for sharing this!! Love finding new work.

    Kate

    • Chic 'n Cheap Living May 21, 2013 at 12:46

      Kate, thanks for stopping by and you’re welcome! I love to share great art and it is pretty cool right?

  • Ellesees.blogspot.com May 21, 2013 at 11:28

    Loved the pics you shared on instagram of this, so glad you fully covered it here 🙂

    • Chic 'n Cheap Living May 21, 2013 at 12:45

      I’m glad you like it Elle! Isn’t the LEGO dress also insane?

  • Sam May 21, 2013 at 14:12

    Wow, I am completely enthralled at his talents…wow the amount of creativity and skill required to create these art forms are amazing! How brilliant is that red dress!!

  • Akaleistar May 21, 2013 at 22:10

    The LEGO dress is mind blowing!

  • lyddiegal May 21, 2013 at 23:27

    Whoa. how do you even get in a lego dress? do they build it around you?

    I always just built houses. three stories, with a flower garden in the front.

    • Chic 'n Cheap Living May 22, 2013 at 03:38

      Seriously I asked the same question. i’m guessing the model has to stand there for a while as the Lego dress is built around her!

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