There’s a new exhibit that recently opened at the Peoria Riverfront Museum and it sounds interesting and intriguing!
It’s called “The Art of the Brick” and it features Lego artwork by contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya. Sawaya has become famous for his Lego art, you can read about him and his art right here.
This exhibit features over 100 pieces of his Lego art and there’s also an interactive Lego area plus I heard there’s a special sticker that’s been made for this event. I think we need to get over there right now!
And look, here we are! Signpost ahead: The Art of the Brick!
Let’s go inside and check it out!
Here we are in the massive lobby of the museum and speaking of massive, there’s some giant Lego’s adorned with the exhibits logo.
I purchased a ticket from Matthew who smiled nicely for the MBIP Camera and now let’s go and take a look at the exhibit!
It’s right behind the doors here, let’s go and take a look at The Art of the Brick!
Overview
Wow, this is wild in here! Lego art as far as the eye can see!
I thought I’d roam around and take some photos of the various exhibits and art in here before we take a close-up look at some of it.
Lego Fine Art
There’s some classic fine art that Nathan Sawaya has duplicated using Lego bricks.
The top is the Mona Lisa, in the middle is “The Touch” from the Sistine Chapel and the last is one of my favorite paintings, The Scream by Edvard Munch. That’s how I feel most of the time!
These are amazing duplications!
Lego Pop Art
Here’s some pop art, starting with one of pop art’s most innovative and well known artists, Andy Warhol. Sawaya says that Warhol was a master of pop art and he wanted to pay homage to him by using a pop culture toy.
Below him is a sculpture that if he would’ve used one finger over it would’ve given it a whole new meaning!
The two pieces below that are called, “The Writer” and “Peace By Pieces.”
Andy Warhol Skulls
These four Lego skulls made me think of an Andy Warhol piece, so I put my own together below it, complete with a signature from Warhol himself!
Lego Sculptures
There’s many Lego sculptures on display in the exhibit and two of them are: Augustus of Prima Porta and the armless Venus de Milo.
The Humanity of Lego
The human form is represented in all kinds of works in here, this is just a small sampling! I love all of these, who knew that Legos could be so emotional?
The Swimmer and The Dinosaur
These two works are extremely impressive! It took Sawaya 15 days to create the Swimmer and it uses 10,980 Lego bricks!
Check out the big head on the Lego dinosaur
Yellow
According to Sawaya, this is the best-known piece of all of his work and it’s the centerpiece of the exhibit.
It’s called Yellow…I’m guessing because it’s yellow.
Interactive
There’s a large interactive area where you can play games with Legos and create your very own Lego art.
Speaking of your very own Lego art, Peoria has its very own Lego artist, Farmer Ted, hopefully the Peoria Riverfront Museum will involve him in this exhibit while it’s on display. Maybe he can bring some of his local Peoria art for a special evening or afternoon!
The Gift Shop
There’s all kinds of Lego merchandise in the gift store, but I was looking for something special…
And there it is at the counter!
My friend Chelsie Tamms from Lettering Works designed a sticker specifically for this exhibit and I love it! There’s Luis and Savanah behind the counter holding them up!
The MBIP World Headquarters Refrigerator
And here we are back at MBIP World Headquarters and I’ve put the Lettering Works sticker up on the refrigerator with some of Chelsie’s other works of art! It’s a nice addition!
Thanks to everyone at Peoria Riverfront Museum for the hospitality and for smiling for the MBIP Camera!
We’ll see you all tomorrow!
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222 SW Washington Street
Peoria
309-686-7000
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Related Post: Peoria’s Farmer Ted’s Star Wars!