On View Magazine Fall 2015 | Page 125

F O R M child in all of us while simultaneously illuminating sophisticated and complex concepts.” Unlike art media that have to be explained to visitors, LEGO bricks are familiar to nearly everyone, regardless of whether they have children at home. Versions of The Art of the Brick have traveled to a wide variety of museums throughout the country, from Massachusetts to California—not all of them exclusively devoted to art. For example, the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, one of the nation’s premiere science museums, hosted the show earlier in 2015. While Sawaya’s exhibition is on view in Vero Beach, a different version of the show will be shown at the Powerhouse Museum of Art, Sydney—one of Australia’s major art museums. Previously a corporate lawyer in New York, Sawaya was the first artist to conceive of LEGO toys as an art medium. His sculptural creations are constructed from countless individual LEGO pieces, and have become increasingly complex since he began making them in 2002. Sawaya believes that “art is not optional,” and hopes that his work will help make art a priority in our schools and homes. O n V iew opposite page (top to bottom): 1. Nathan Sawaya poses with his work, Grasp. 2. Green by Nathan Sawaya, plastic bricks, 70 x 27 x 15”. this page (clockwise from top left): 1. Puddle by Nathan Sawaya, plastic bricks, 22 x 43 x 15”. 2. Dog by Nathan Sawaya, plastic bricks, 29 x 30 x 35”. 3. Balancing by Nathan Sawaya, plastic bricks, 45 x 15 x 15”. 4. Yellow by Nathan Sawaya, plastic bricks, 28 x 35 x 19”. all Photos courtesy of brickartist.com.