The LEGO Art collection started out in 2020 with four mosaic building sets featuring artist Andy Warhol’s famous Marilyn Monroe artwork (#31197), The Beatles (#31198), Iron Man (#31199), and Sith Lords from Star Wars (#31200). Each of the mosaics came with alternate builds as well as combined displays (when you purchased more than one set). This new line of sets targeted adults who were new to the LEGO hobby and wanted attractive decorative pieces with an interactive and playful touch. Seasoned LEGO fans also appreciated them for the large number of small tiles and plates in a wonderful array of colors.
Four more sets were added to the LEGO Art collection in 2021, but interestingly, they were simpler designs with mostly 2D artwork; the Harry Potter Hogwarts Crests (#31201), Disney’s Mickey and Minnie Mouse (#31202), an interactive set with smaller mosaics for group building (#21226), and a large World map (#31203). These sets are still available at the LEGO Art section of the Online LEGO Shop.
In early 2022, the LEGO Art collection turned back to portraits featuring Elvis Presley (#31204) and artist Jim Lee’s Batman collection (#31205). I’m quite happy about this as to me the portraits feel like more expressive and sophisticated display pieces.
The #31204 LEGO Art Elvis Presley set comes with 3,445 pieces – mostly small round tiles in 16 colors; black, dark-blue, dark-gray, dark-brown, dark-orange, dark-red, light-gray, light-nougat, medium-blue, medium-nougat, nougat, red, reddish-brown, sand-blue, tan, and white. (It’s interesting to note that it appears that LEGO designers prefer to use smooth tiles for realistic portraits and small round plates for fantasy characters.) Just like in the previous sets, the mosaic is built on nine 16-16 bricks sturdily connected with LEGO Technic pins, and framed with long black tiles.
And just like in the previous sets, you can choose between three portraits of “The King” through the years; his start in music, in his prime, and later in his career. If you get three of the sets, you can display all of them nicely arranged in a row, and you even have the chance to combine three sets to make a larger mosaic. So, if you’re a die-hard Elvis fan, you may want to get six sets!
As mentioned above, the LEGO Art sets are marketed to adults who are new to the LEGO hobby with crafting and relaxation strongly emphasized. Scanning the QR code in the building instructions connects you to nearly two hours of soundtrack to immerse yourself in the experience. LEGO designers and marketers knew exactly what they are doing. The building experience of LEGO Art sets is certainly wonderful, and Elvis is as charming and handsome as ever in all four variations.
This set (along with The Beatles set) is also an excellent starting point if you want to make your own portraits due to the large number of skin-colored pieces. If you want to check it out, it’s available for $119.99 at the LEGO Art section of the Online LEGO Shop.
The #31205 LEGO Art Jim Lee Batman collection is a very interesting piece, combining elements of several of the previous mosaic sets. Just like the earlier masked characters, Batman utilizes small round plates instead of tiles in 16 colors; black, blue, bright-green, dark-blue, dark-gray, dark-orange, light-aqua, light-gray, medium-azure, medium-lavender, nougat, pearl-dark-gray, red, reddish-brown, tan, and white.
And like in the Sith Lords set, you can choose between three different portraits; Batman, The Joker, and Harley Quinn. If you purchase three sets, you can display all three iconic DC Comics characters. Or you can combine two sets into a larger mosaic of Batman and Catwoman, or an even larger mosaic with three sets of Batman. If you want to display the entire collection at the same time, you will need eight sets! Quite an ambitious project, but it would look amazing!
Here also, you get nearly two hours of soundtrack that you can listen to while building, and once you’re done, you can display the mosaics standing up on a shelf, or hanging on a wall. . If you want to check it out, it’s available for $119.99 at the LEGO Art section of the Online LEGO Shop.
The thing about these LEGO Art sets is that they are dangerously addictive. Especially the portrait sets. Building them can be a little tedious, but if you put on the included soundtrack or listen to some other media and you spread out the project for several days, it’s an enjoyable and relaxing experience. And they look great on display. I would say pick carefully which one(s) you want to build depending on your budget and the size of your display area, then go for it. You can’t go wrong with any of them.
What do you think? How do you like the LEGO Art collection? Do you have any of the sets already? Which is your favorite? Feel free to share and discuss in the comment section below!
And you might also like to check out the following related posts:
