Hand-crafted art built with LEGO® bricks
Layering tinted transparent plates
over a solid base opens the door
to refreshingly nuanced colors.
The Process
Designing brick art requires spreadsheet thinking. Tiny, little rectangles neatly aligned in an orderly array, single cells interlocking to present a greater whole. Calculated and precise, yet malleable.
But rectangles have limits. Those sharp, pointy corners and unyielding edges tend to repel curves and fluidity. Expressing the natural beauty of earth and space in such a rigid medium is…tricky. Trying to do so through the lens of fine art while refusing automation is…well…extra tricky.
And color? Opting to work with only true LEGO® pieces means accepting a drastically abbreviated color palette. Medium gray or very dark gray? You want yellow? OK, here are three yellows to choose from, one of which is really more of a beige. Granted, these corporately curated colors are charming, but I’m often left feeling like I barely have a full box of crayons to work with.
Fortunately…there are transparent bricks. Layering tinted transparent plates over a solid base opens the door to refreshingly nuanced colors. Deep emerald blending into smokey aqua blending into luminous sapphire…
This changes everything.
Despite the challenges, I love working with these finicky little bricks. Creativity paired with logic. Intentionality with a hint of whimsy. Unexpected, yet familiar. This is me, and I’m excited to share these pieces with you.
Kristen Magnuson
Owner | Artist
A lifelong Pacific Northwest resident, Kristen studied fine art and graphic design at Western Washington University. Growing up with a younger sibling offered a welcome excuse to keep playing with LEGO® bricks far beyond her peers. She doesn’t plan on stopping.