The Art of the Brick at The Franklin Institute

Yesterday, I shared a glimpse of what I saw at The Art of the Brick exhibit at The Franklin Institute here in Philly. Today I will share the rest of the photos I took of the amazing displays!

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post featuring The Great Wave, contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya is responsible for all the wonderful works of art seen here, using all LEGO bricks! Almost all of them (the “paintings” included) are three dimensional, with bricks coming out at you. It’s really something to marvel at in person, but hopefully you’ll see a little bit of what I saw from my photos!

You will probably recognize many of the famous works of art, but there are also original concept pieces by Nathan too. If you are still planning on checking out the exhibit, don’t worry- I haven’t spoiled it for you! These photos are only about half of what is there and the experience in person is so much different! For now, let’s take a walk through the photos.

When you first come in to the exhibit, you’re in a room set up like that in an art gallery, with masterpieces hanging on each wall.

The above Monet was just gorgeous! Up close and far away were two different looks entirely, just like a real Monet.

Van Gogh’s Starry Night needs no introduction! It jumped right off the “canvas”!

The girl’s pearl earring below was made of a light up LEGO brick! So creative!

I couldn’t get enough shots of Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss”! It’s a work I just adore already, and it was one of my favorite pieces at the show. I tried to get a few different angles so you could see how large it was and just how many bricks were used!

 

This replica of a stained glass window was hanging high above our heads in all its LEGO glory! Also hanging above us, was a section from da Vinci’s famous Sistine Chapel fresco.

The masterpieces room was probably my favorite (that’s just the art major in me), but the others were amazing too! The second room had lots of LEGO sculptures, pottery and more, including a replication of Michelangelo’s David. When I saw the real thing in Italy, I was floored. It remains the only piece of art that has physically taken my breath away. I just wish I had been allowed to photograph it when we were there! I guess I’ll have to settle for shooting this LEGO version!

This next guy was huge! Here is the Husband for size.

The next room began all of Nathan’s original artworks.

Husband took the above and below shots. Aren’t they fabulous?

I lined the next photo up kind of perfectly with the room’s title behind it!

This work was titled “Everlasting” because that’s what love is. You can grow old, go grey, gain weight, etc., but love will always remain. It was a lovely piece!

The above work was suspended from the ceiling and looked so cool!

This dinosaur had a room all to himself, and why not?! He was gigantic!

This room was very interesting. Along the walls were works of art, each featuring a painted detail of LEGO bricks. At first, you don’t even notice that something in the painting is different. Upon closer inspection, you realize what that detail is made up of, which in itself was creative. Then, those creative details were made of real LEGO bricks in the middle of the room. Check it out to see what I mean!

A special Philly exhibit was added at the end to commemorate it’s time in Philadelphia: the Liberty Bell!

It was huge and amazing!

As you left the exhibit, you saw these LEGO brick men hugging trees, with tons of signatures on them. At Nathan’s April show last year at Discovery Times Square, he asked guests to sign bricks, with the promise of turning them into something amazing. This is the something he made them in to. Amazing indeed.

Have you seen The Art of the Brick in person? Which LEGO brick art work was your favorite?