Nathan Sawaya
Nathan Sawaya
Nathan Sawayais an American-based artist who builds custom three-dimensional sculptures and large-scale mosaics from popular everyday items and is best known for his work with standard LEGO toy bricks. His art creations are commissioned by companies, charities, individuals, museums and galleries all over the world...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionSculptor
Date of Birth10 July 1973
CityColville, WA
CountryUnited States of America
artists budding days home needed office periods practicing sculpt until wire
What do young, budding artists do, but go to law school? I had creative periods now and again, but it wasn't until I was practicing law that I really needed a creative outlet. I'd come home from long days at the office and draw, paint, and sculpt from clay, wire - even candy.
art aspect blend connect corners creating curvy design enjoy forms lets medium nostalgic notice people sharp using
There's a fun, nostalgic aspect to Legos - people connect to the art on a different level. But it's also a medium that lets me design anything I can imagine. I especially enjoy creating curvy forms using rectangular pieces. Up close, you notice the sharp angles, but when you back away, the corners blend into curves.
art ended happened leaving practice practicing pursue time york
There was a time when I was practicing law in New York and I wanted to find something else to do. So I ended up leaving the practice of law to pursue my art and it just happened to be out of Lego bricks.
academy award behind best earlier extra happy nominee oscar performance seen song special team version
The team behind 'The Lego Movie' approached me. They wanted to do something extra special for the Academy Award performance of best song nominee 'Everything is Awesome.' They had seen my earlier version of a Lego Oscar statue, and I was happy to take on the challenge.
build dug home kids marble statue
Kids can't build a marble statue at home. But I've had parents tell me that, after an exhibit, their kids immediately dug out their Lego kits and disappeared for three days.
aware business company good painter relationship since
I'm an independent artist, but I do have a good business relationship with Lego, since I'm a unique customer. They're aware of what I'm doing. A painter may not have a relationship with a paint maker, but there's only one company that makes Lego.
campaign dc developed donated explore few good looking relationship theme
I was looking to explore the theme of good and evil, so what better inspiration than the comics? I'd developed a relationship with DC and Warner Bros. when I donated a sculpture of Catwoman to the 'We Can Be Heroes' campaign a few years ago. That's what started it.
art brings buy exhibition gift hear nostalgia people seeing shop toy
I do hear from people at my exhibition about seeing these things made from this toy from their childhood, and it brings them back. They'll go and buy a set of Lego from the gift shop because of that nostalgia and seeing it at the art exhibition.
alter behind bricks buy confined home hopefully kids paint stick
I am confined to the Lego palate. I don't paint the bricks. I stick with what Lego has made. And the idea behind that is I do want to hopefully inspire kids to go home and create on their own. And if I do, I want them to be able to buy those very same bricks I use. So I don't alter the bricks; I just use what's provided.
art exhibition history taken works
'The Art of the Brick' is an exhibition I've done where I've taken some works of art from art history and replicated them all out of Lego bricks.
asked people submitted
So many people have asked me about getting their own LEGO Oscar that I submitted it to LEGO Ideas so that everyone has the ability to get one.
art nobody piece
If I'm creating a free-form piece of art, I can make it look like anything I want, and nobody will say it's wrong.
bit daunting projects skeleton stuff
I've made a bit of a career taking daunting projects out of Lego. I've done things like a dinosaur skeleton and stuff like that.
caress statue
I think watching Channing Tatum caress his Lego Oscar statue will be something I won't forget. Even if I try.