There’s a New LEGO Attraction and Everything Is Awesome

Kim Taylor-Foster
Comics DC
Comics DC

LEGO is massive. The tiny Danish brick, once only popular with kids as a childhood toy, at some point exploded into a phenomenon. Today, its popularity spans generations. It has spawned successful big-screen CGI movies, as well as a batch of themed computer games. LEGO has become a collectible, and plays a huge part in pop culture, cultivating tie-ins with some of the biggest properties in entertainment including Star Wars and DC Comics.

But not only that, the little building block that’s the nemesis of bare feet everywhere can officially be called ‘art’: artist Nathan Sawaya builds awesome LEGO sculptures that blow you away. And excitingly, he’s partnered with Warner Bros. and DC Comics to construct an extensive collection of LEGO artworks that you can now see in a brand new exhibition in London. Housed in a purpose-built venue on the South Bank, The Art of the Brick: DC Super Heroes features more than 120 original creations, made entirely out of LEGO bricks.

LEGO Batmobile
Artist Nathan Sawaya with his life-size LEGO replica of the Batmobile – and Batman-purple tie

Inspired by DC’s Justice League, there are large-scale interpretations of characters including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman, among others. You’ll also find vehicles and impressive LEGO versions of classic comic book covers as well as pieces inspired by Cubism and Pop Art. There’s even a life-size Batmobile, that measures 5.5 metres in length and uses half a million LEGO bricks.

LEGO Joker Batman

And it’s not just superheroes – Sawaya has worked on plenty of supervillains too, including the Joker, Harley Quinn and the Riddler.

Fandom went along to a preview of the exhibition and found ourselves open-mouthed at Sawaya’s creations – there are plaques accompanying many of the exhibits which tell you, astonishingly, how many LEGO bricks went into the model. Some tell you how long it took to put together. Sawaya loves a burrito, and even charts the number of burritos he ate while making some of his reproductions.

We’ve included a selection of the pieces on display below – but be advised, these LEGO constructions need to be witnessed in their full plastic glory. For exhibition details, scroll to the end of the article.

A cross-legged Harley Quinn made out of red LEGO bricks

Aquaman at home in the bath, complete with rubber ducky

Diana Prince in disguise, hiding in plain sight wearing a Roy Lichtenstein-inspired Wonder Woman dress

Nathan Sawaya’s Cubist rendering of Wonder Woman

The Flash, complete with elaborate backdrop

Superman in flight, suspended

This Superman model explores deeper themes – he’s seen here PUSHING HIS OWN CAPE, which seems to be forming a wall around him

The Flash in motion

This comic book cover on the back of Batman’s cape is something special

One of several busts in the exhibition – this one’s of Wonder Woman

Photos by Jane Hobson. The Art of the Brick: DC Super Heroes is open from March 1 2017.

Kim Taylor-Foster
Kim Taylor-Foster is Entertainment Editor for Fandom in the UK. She was raised on an unsteady diet of video nasties and violent action flicks.