The global phenomenon exhibition features more than 80 art pieces made out of millions of LEGO bricks from contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya
BUFFALO, NY – Science and art combine as the Buffalo Museum of Science welcomes THE ART OF THE BRICK, presented by M&T Bank, for a limited 12-week engagement. Heralded by CNN as a Top Ten ‘Global Must-See Exhibition,’ and the first major exhibition to use LEGO bricks as the sole medium, THE ART OF THE BRICK is the world’s largest and most elaborate display of LEGO art, featuring more than 80 creative and inspiring pieces constructed by contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya.
“From engineering to mathematics to robotics, the Buffalo Museum of Science has used the LEGO brick as an important learning tool for decades. We’re thrilled to showcase this beloved toy for guests in a way that melds art and science with THE ART OF THE BRICK. We are extremely grateful for M&T Bank’s support,” said Marisa Wigglesworth, president & CEO, Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences. “STEM thinkers throughout history have been motivated and influenced by art. We hope this exhibit will inspire the next generation of builders, engineers, mathematicians and artists right here in Western New York.”
Designed to stimulate ingenuity and creativity, and the perfect complement to the Museum’s mission focused on STEAM-based learning for guests of all ages, THE ART OF THE BRICK features original pieces and re-imagined versions of some of the world’s most famous art masterpieces, like Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” and Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.” The exhibit also includes a gallery showcasing an innovative, multimedia collection of LEGO brick-infused photography produced in tandem with award-winning photographer Dean West.
Visitors will have the opportunity to get up-close with fan favorite, Yellow, a life-size sculpture of a man ripping his chest open with thousands of yellow LEGO bricks cascading from the cavity. They can also walk under a 20-foot-long Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur skeleton made out of bricks and come face-to-face with a giant LEGO brick skull.
“THE ART OF THE BRICK takes LEGO somewhere you wouldn’t expect and shows you things you have never seen before,” said artist Sawaya. “The goal with this collection of art is to demonstrate the potential of imagination and the power of creativity.”
Visitors can channel their own creativity and artistic inspiration in “The Science of the Brick,” presented by AAA Western and Central New York, the hands-on LEGO brick activity area within the exhibition. There, guests can participate in architecture and design challenges at multiple activity stations.
“What artist Nathan Sawaya was able to accomplish with the simple LEGO brick is astounding. We want visitors to embrace this outside-the-box thinking by doing what they do best with LEGO bricks – create!” adds Wigglesworth.
THE ART OF THE BRICK, presented by M&T Bank, at the Buffalo Museum of Science runs from February 9 to May 5, 2019. Admission to THE ART OF THE BRICK includes Museum admission, the exhibit fee and access to “The Science of the Brick” activity area ($18 for adults, $15 for children, seniors 62+, students and military with ID, $5 for Museum Members). The Museum and exhibit are free for children under two. THE ART OF THE BRICK is open during regular Museum hours, including extended hours on Wednesdays (10 a.m. to 9 p.m.).
For more complete details, visit www.sciencebuff.org.
ABOUT THE BUFFALO MUSEUM OF SCIENCE
Rooted in the belief that science creates opportunities and shapes our world, the Buffalo Museum of Science is a non-profit educational institution dedicated to providing relevant science programming to learners of all ages in the Buffalo Niagara region. Through interactive science studios and exhibits designed for multi-generational learning, the Museum showcases its extensive collection of more than 700,000 specimens and artifacts representing all facets of the natural world with an emphasis on Western New York. With a focus on raising the science literacy in the Buffalo Niagara area and beyond, the Museum offers hands-on workshops, camps, panel discussions, guided tours and enhance learning opportunities for its guests and community. Opened in 1929 in Buffalo’s Olmsted-designed Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, the Museum recently installed its eighth interactive science studio marking the completion of the Museum’s 9-year-long transformation of its guest experience. The Buffalo Museum of Science is governed by the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences alongside Tifft Nature Preserve in South Buffalo, a 264-acre urban wetland preserve on reclaimed former industrial land. Learn more at www.sciencebuff.org.
ABOUT M&T BANK
M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T’s principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, operates banking offices in New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Trust-related services are provided by M&T’s Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank.
ABOUT NATHAN SAWAYA & THE ART OF THE BRICK
Former NYC corporate lawyer turned contemporary artist, Nathan Sawaya is the first artist ever to take the LEGO brick into the art world as a medium. Sawaya has earned a top position in the world of contemporary art and has created a new dimension by merging Pop Art and Surrealism in awe-inspiring and groundbreaking ways. Sawaya’s touring exhibition – THE ART OF THE BRICK® – has entertained and inspired millions of art lovers and enthusiasts around the world. CNN heralded, THE ART OF THE BRICK is one of the top ten “must-see exhibits in the world!” Sawaya is an author, speaker and one of the most popular, award-winning contemporary artists of our time. For more information visit www.brickartist.com.
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