Soon, You’ll Be Able to Recreate Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” Out of LEGO

Although it would be nice to proudly display Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” in our homes, taking it out of the Museum of Modern Art is virtually impossible. This might be the next best thing: a LEGO replica you can “paint” yourself.

LEGO has approved plans for a 1,552-brick build kit inspired by Van Gogh’s 1889 magnum opus, allowing anyone to tap into their inner post-impressionist painter. In addition to regular bricks, the set will have curved parts and circular pieces to mimic Van Gogh’s brush strokes. Once formed, the set will look like a 3D version of the original, complete with its mesmerizing swirls and eye-catching hues. 

And as tribute to the Dutch artist, LEGO will even include a mini figure of him hard at work on a mini copy of the famed painting.

The concept was approved after it received 10,000 votes on the LEGO Ideas website, where enthusiasts can submit proposals for future build kits. Truman Cheng, a 25-year-old PhD student from Hong Kong, explains how he came up with the idea. 

“One day, I was just playing with LEGO parts, and I realized stacking LEGO plates together in random intervals looks a lot like Van Gogh’s iconic brush strokes,” he said. 

With many people still stuck at home waiting for the pandemic to end, this would make for an excellent creative outlet, even for those who can’t paint like an Old Master.

“To me, LEGO is more than toys, it’s something similar to painting,” added Cheng. “I can express myself, create characters and sculptures from my imagination. It’s a very relaxing experience where I can forget about the petty troubles in daily lives, and get lost in my own imagination.”