NEP
06-12-2010, 02:56 PM
Some artists use paint, others bronze – But for Nathan Sawaya he chooses to build his awe-inspiring art out of toy building blocks. LEGO® bricks to be exact. The former corporate lawyer quit his job in 2001 to focus on becoming the world’s foremost LEGO artist.
With more than 1.5 million colored bricks in his New York studio, Sawaya’s sculptures take many forms.
Sawaya’s art is currently touring North American museums in a show titled, The Art of the Brick. It’s the only exhibition focusing exclusively on LEGO as an art medium. The creations, constructed from nearly one million pieces, were built from standard bricks beginning as early as 2002. More information on the tour, dates and locations can be found here.
A full-time freelance artist, Sawaya accepts commissions from individuals, corporations, and … well just about anyone with a good idea! He’s also available to design and build custom creations at events, photo shoots and conventions.
So let Sawaya know what you have in mind, he says, that there are literally no limits to what he can create out of LEGO.
1. Heartfelt
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvlgjZJpI/AAAAAAAAAUg/7HTuAnDUi_o/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-heartfelt.jpg
February 2009
35″ x 13″ x 28″
+The number of combinations you can build are practically endless. With just six 8-stud LEGO bricks you can build over 102 million combinations!
2. Underneath
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/Sndvvk8btSI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/iEYC8mFn3oU/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Underneath.jpg
March 2009
21″ x 30″ x 17″
+It is estimated there are about 50-60 Lego bricks for every person on the planet.
3. Blue
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/Sndvf0dirnI/AAAAAAAAAUI/8myrOy-T0PA/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Blue.jpg
January 2006
42″ x 34″ x 18″
+Kids around the world spend around 5 billion hours playing with Lego.
4. Yellow
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/Sndvvt1q6pI/AAAAAAAAAVU/EdbKGH7lZk4/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Yellow.jpg
February 2006
35″ x 13″ x 28
+The Lego Company is based out of Denmark, and the word Lego comes from the Danish word Leg Godt which means “play well”.
5. Circle Triangle Square
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/Sndvf6Y82-I/AAAAAAAAAUM/0MPkMPbuUmM/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Circle-Triangle-Square.jpg
April 2009
72″ x 70″ x 16″
+Lego bricks have been used in engineering and other technical fields to do real design and science.
6. Think!
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvvaIvomI/AAAAAAAAAVM/Ids0OSH0rfw/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-think.jpg
November 2008
42″ x 26″ x 22″
+7 LEGO sets are sold by retailers every second around the world.
7. Mt. Rushmore Replica
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvqWce1DI/AAAAAAAAAVA/kBRbCopLNxU/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Rushmore.jpg
February 2009
59″ x 25″ x 29″
As selected by the fans through the “What Should Nathan Make?” adventure, he created his rendition of the Gutzon Borglum’s most famous sculpture, otherwise known as Mt. Rushmore.
8. Rebirth of New Orleans
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvqBgeKkI/AAAAAAAAAUw/-W2q7_cs0eI/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-NewOrleans.jpg
December 2006
66″ x 42″ x 64″
Nathan Sawaya was commissioned to build a large sculpture for the celebration of the rebirth of New Orleans.The piece took him over six weeks to build and he used over 120,000 LEGO elements. It’s permanently on display in the Main Branch of the New Orleans Public Library.
9. Hands
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvqO-epbI/AAAAAAAAAU0/viV5W4DxpY8/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-nohands.jpg
August 2009
22″ x 39″ x 25″
10. Gray
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/Sndvf6ZFr5I/AAAAAAAAAUU/mbUFcngk_5A/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Gray.jpg
March 2006
45″ x 45″ x 15″
+More than 400 billion LEGO bricks have been produced since 1949. Stacked on top of each other, this is enough to connect the Earth and the Moon ten times over.
11. Hand
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvlYF7vCI/AAAAAAAAAUc/vYJGp0O8w20/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-hand.jpg
January 2006
7″ x 21″ x 6″
12. Life size Replicas
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/Sndvl22AAaI/AAAAAAAAAUo/1El3iM4m7IA/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-life-size-replica1.jpg
October 2008
Nathan even made himself out of LEGO bricks. By the way, he is also offering the chance to purchase a replica of you or your loved one exclusively through the Neiman Marcus 2008 Gift Book.
The price is just $60,000.00.
13. Iwo Jima Replica
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvlvrnlPI/AAAAAAAAAUk/Qni85ft20-Y/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Iwo-Jima.jpg
September 2006
75″ x 75″ x 68″
This is a replica of the flag raising at Iwo Jima – a permanent installation at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
14. Grasp
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/Sndvf1QnlBI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/CQ5tT627fDg/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-grasp.jpg
December 2008
30″ x 67″ x 30″
15. Green
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvgKuBbsI/AAAAAAAAAUY/HMcKC4mSEyQ/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-green.jpg
July 2008
27″ x 70″ x 15″
16. Sing
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvvWPH5PI/AAAAAAAAAVE/CWDDPokoH_c/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Sing.jpg
February 2008
31″ x 56″ x 15
17. Mask
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/Sndvl_LLOfI/AAAAAAAAAUs/jkpL0mH4NM0/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Mask.jpg
January 2008
29″ x 71″ x 24″
Mask is currently on display at the Avant Gallery in Miami.
18. Reflection
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvqZVVmmI/AAAAAAAAAU8/F58K1tOl7pE/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-reflection.jpg
August 2006
28″ x 48″ x 20″
19. Stop, Look and Live
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvvScUEpI/AAAAAAAAAVI/lHWS2F9bqaU/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-stop-look-live.jpg
October 2008
20. Red
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvqKtzW9I/AAAAAAAAAU4/kagvaPoxLkE/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Red.jpg
August 2005
24″ x 49″ x 26″
With more than 1.5 million colored bricks in his New York studio, Sawaya’s sculptures take many forms.
Sawaya’s art is currently touring North American museums in a show titled, The Art of the Brick. It’s the only exhibition focusing exclusively on LEGO as an art medium. The creations, constructed from nearly one million pieces, were built from standard bricks beginning as early as 2002. More information on the tour, dates and locations can be found here.
A full-time freelance artist, Sawaya accepts commissions from individuals, corporations, and … well just about anyone with a good idea! He’s also available to design and build custom creations at events, photo shoots and conventions.
So let Sawaya know what you have in mind, he says, that there are literally no limits to what he can create out of LEGO.
1. Heartfelt
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvlgjZJpI/AAAAAAAAAUg/7HTuAnDUi_o/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-heartfelt.jpg
February 2009
35″ x 13″ x 28″
+The number of combinations you can build are practically endless. With just six 8-stud LEGO bricks you can build over 102 million combinations!
2. Underneath
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/Sndvvk8btSI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/iEYC8mFn3oU/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Underneath.jpg
March 2009
21″ x 30″ x 17″
+It is estimated there are about 50-60 Lego bricks for every person on the planet.
3. Blue
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/Sndvf0dirnI/AAAAAAAAAUI/8myrOy-T0PA/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Blue.jpg
January 2006
42″ x 34″ x 18″
+Kids around the world spend around 5 billion hours playing with Lego.
4. Yellow
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/Sndvvt1q6pI/AAAAAAAAAVU/EdbKGH7lZk4/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Yellow.jpg
February 2006
35″ x 13″ x 28
+The Lego Company is based out of Denmark, and the word Lego comes from the Danish word Leg Godt which means “play well”.
5. Circle Triangle Square
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/Sndvf6Y82-I/AAAAAAAAAUM/0MPkMPbuUmM/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Circle-Triangle-Square.jpg
April 2009
72″ x 70″ x 16″
+Lego bricks have been used in engineering and other technical fields to do real design and science.
6. Think!
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvvaIvomI/AAAAAAAAAVM/Ids0OSH0rfw/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-think.jpg
November 2008
42″ x 26″ x 22″
+7 LEGO sets are sold by retailers every second around the world.
7. Mt. Rushmore Replica
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvqWce1DI/AAAAAAAAAVA/kBRbCopLNxU/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Rushmore.jpg
February 2009
59″ x 25″ x 29″
As selected by the fans through the “What Should Nathan Make?” adventure, he created his rendition of the Gutzon Borglum’s most famous sculpture, otherwise known as Mt. Rushmore.
8. Rebirth of New Orleans
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvqBgeKkI/AAAAAAAAAUw/-W2q7_cs0eI/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-NewOrleans.jpg
December 2006
66″ x 42″ x 64″
Nathan Sawaya was commissioned to build a large sculpture for the celebration of the rebirth of New Orleans.The piece took him over six weeks to build and he used over 120,000 LEGO elements. It’s permanently on display in the Main Branch of the New Orleans Public Library.
9. Hands
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvqO-epbI/AAAAAAAAAU0/viV5W4DxpY8/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-nohands.jpg
August 2009
22″ x 39″ x 25″
10. Gray
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/Sndvf6ZFr5I/AAAAAAAAAUU/mbUFcngk_5A/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Gray.jpg
March 2006
45″ x 45″ x 15″
+More than 400 billion LEGO bricks have been produced since 1949. Stacked on top of each other, this is enough to connect the Earth and the Moon ten times over.
11. Hand
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvlYF7vCI/AAAAAAAAAUc/vYJGp0O8w20/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-hand.jpg
January 2006
7″ x 21″ x 6″
12. Life size Replicas
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/Sndvl22AAaI/AAAAAAAAAUo/1El3iM4m7IA/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-life-size-replica1.jpg
October 2008
Nathan even made himself out of LEGO bricks. By the way, he is also offering the chance to purchase a replica of you or your loved one exclusively through the Neiman Marcus 2008 Gift Book.
The price is just $60,000.00.
13. Iwo Jima Replica
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvlvrnlPI/AAAAAAAAAUk/Qni85ft20-Y/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Iwo-Jima.jpg
September 2006
75″ x 75″ x 68″
This is a replica of the flag raising at Iwo Jima – a permanent installation at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
14. Grasp
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/Sndvf1QnlBI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/CQ5tT627fDg/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-grasp.jpg
December 2008
30″ x 67″ x 30″
15. Green
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvgKuBbsI/AAAAAAAAAUY/HMcKC4mSEyQ/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-green.jpg
July 2008
27″ x 70″ x 15″
16. Sing
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvvWPH5PI/AAAAAAAAAVE/CWDDPokoH_c/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Sing.jpg
February 2008
31″ x 56″ x 15
17. Mask
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/Sndvl_LLOfI/AAAAAAAAAUs/jkpL0mH4NM0/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Mask.jpg
January 2008
29″ x 71″ x 24″
Mask is currently on display at the Avant Gallery in Miami.
18. Reflection
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvqZVVmmI/AAAAAAAAAU8/F58K1tOl7pE/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-reflection.jpg
August 2006
28″ x 48″ x 20″
19. Stop, Look and Live
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvvScUEpI/AAAAAAAAAVI/lHWS2F9bqaU/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-stop-look-live.jpg
October 2008
20. Red
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9F9_RUESS2E/SndvqKtzW9I/AAAAAAAAAU4/kagvaPoxLkE/s800/Incredible-LEGO-Art-by-Nathan-Sawaya-Red.jpg
August 2005
24″ x 49″ x 26″