Lego Logo

          LEGOs are simple yet fun creations that I as well as many Americans feel a connection too. They were part of the childhood of many people raised in the 1930's and above. This toy sparks creativity and so it only stands to reason its logo would be just as creative. The Lego Company was started up in 1932 in Billund, Denmark by Kirk Christiansen. He and his employees started making and selling wooden products and toys. As the company grew, in 1949, Christiansen invented Automated Binding Blocks which is the precursor of modern day LEGOs. Today it has evolved from the four colors it started with to 55 different colors and 2,200 different shapes. The name Lego means to play well. The first logo for Lego was made in 1934 and it started out as an ink stamp that they would use on their wooden products. Presently the logo has gone through many changes, going from a plain black sharp letter logo to the one we know today. Today it is a red square with the word Lego, the word being rounder and in larger typeface and outlined in black and yellow lines. This look is supposed to be friendlier and represent the company’s values on quality, fun, creativity, imagination, and more.  

            LEGOs have become more than a toy for kids and more people are starting to see that this toy has endless possibilities. The Lego brand has made movies, games, clothing, books, sets, etc. LEGOs have also been made into art as shown by the artist Nathan Sawaya. Based in New York he makes artwork out of different materials such as LEGOs. He is currently touring museums in his show the Art of Bricks. His show tours North America, Asia, and Australia. As LEGOs are toys his exhibitions are among the first to focus on art from LEGOs. Many of his exhibitions have sculptures created solely for that single exhibition. He wants to inspire people to make their own creations using things you can find at home. For more information on this artist, tour dates, and locations you can visit http://brickartist.com/.

Sawaya, Nathan. Heartfelt. February 2009. 35" x 13" x 28". LEGOs. Private Collection. 

Sawaya, Nathan. Rebirth of New Orleans. December 2006. 66″ x 42″ x 64″. LEGOs. Main Branch of the New Orleans Public Library.