Toys
Buy a Lego Life-Size Replica of Yourself for $US60,000
Posted by Jesus Diaz at 10:30 PM on October 8, 2008
Lego Artist Nathan Sawaya--one of the only six certified Lego professionals in the world, three in the US--will do a full-size scale Lego replica of yourself for $US60,000. You just have to order it from Neiman Marcus, send some photographs, and Nathan will build your natural-size 8-bit version. Given his rates, that amount is quite reasonable and, coincidentally, our remaining budget for the rest of the year. Now I just have to come with an excuse to order one of myself and get another $US60,000 to buy one of Uma Thurman. Update: Nathan came to us with some specifics about this work.

Jesús Díaz: On average, how many pieces would it take to do one of these?
Nathan Sawaya: I don't keep track of how many pieces I use in a sculpture because it would get a bit tedious. But I am guessing around 15,000-25,000 individual bricks.
JD: As you are an sculptor, you work straight from reality, no digitising process needed. How many photos do you need to do your work?
NS: Ideally, I would like 16 photos: Eight full body photos from 360 degrees, and eight of the face and head from 360 degrees.
JD: Have you done one of these already? Any famous people?
NS: I did myself, does that count? Seriously, the only other full body adult that I have done so far happens to be Stephen Colbert.

Acclaimed artist Nathan Sawaya is obsessed with LEGO® bricks. Uh, trust us, he is. He fills his New York studio with more than 1.5 million of the interlocking toy building blocks, and he can sculpt anything out of them -- a full-size Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton or a 7-foot-long scale replica of the Brooklyn Bridge, for example. Given the skill and depth of his devotion to his art, it makes perfect sense to immortalise your own magnificent self with our 2008 His & Hers gifts. Send in detailed photos and measurements, then Nathan gets to snapping and BOOM! One-of-a-kind, life-size sculptures of yourselves in LEGO bricks. We priced our exclusive gift individually, so Nathan can "brickalize" you and the S.O., the kids, Granny and/or anyone else you obsess about. (Just make sure you have the rights to their likenesses; we're not here to judge.)

And by the way, if you don't have $US60,000, then you should consider entering our Go Miniman Go Lego contest. The vintage shrink-wrapped Lego sets will get you a nice chunk of that money in eBay. But hurry up because the end of the month deadline is quickly approaching. If you want to participate, check the contest rules here and send your video now. [Neiman Marcus]


Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
EricAlder
Posted 12:11 AM 9/10/08
I'll build ya one for just $30,000!
EricAlder
No_7
Posted 12:07 AM 9/10/08
Hmm... I'd like to order Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and a few others. Then I can open a Lego star museum... Have your picture taken with the lego star of your choice - $30.
If I did that, I wonder if I can write off the cost as a business expense?
Ah well, all I can say is Lego boobs! haha
No_7
Matronix
Posted 12:04 AM 9/10/08
According to LEGO's site, there are 6 LEGO Certified Professionals:
[www.lego.com]
Matronix
SpiffySteve
Posted 12:02 AM 9/10/08
@DarthTader:
Maybe it's hollow for a reason. You could fill the lego shell up with your blood type making it even more realistic. Watch the lego bleed like you would
SpiffySteve
B1663R
Posted 11:56 PM 8/10/08
wait, wait, wait... how does one get certified to become a professional lego builder?
is there a school or something? teh pay looks pretty good, i mean 60 grand to build a lego statue? that took what? 3 months?
that's like ...carry the one...add two... $240,000 a year!!!
B1663R
DarthTader
Posted 11:53 PM 8/10/08
Honestly, I'm disappointed that it's hollow. I mean for $60,000 I would expect a solid Lego clone, the empty shell is just too close to me.
DarthTader
Numerous
Posted 11:50 PM 8/10/08
If I had a spare $60000 sitting around I'd, well, probably pay off a chunk of my house. But if I had another $60000 I'd, ok, pay off more of the house and get a new car. However, with the third spare $60000, I'd...still not buy this.
That said, LEGO rules.
Numerous
Krrong
Posted 11:44 PM 8/10/08
*waits for Jesus (Mr. Lego) Diaz to get one (Just jokin')
Krrong
Mooby
Posted 11:43 PM 8/10/08
@supercollider: How about comments about people having 'too much money on their hands'?
Mooby
supercollider
Posted 11:42 PM 8/10/08
If I see anyone say anything about 'too much time on their hands' I'm going to rip someone who probably didn't deserve it's head off.
supercollider
OMG! Ponies!
Posted 11:40 PM 8/10/08
Can't I just buy a shitton of LEGO and do it myself?
OMG! Ponies!
Maksimir
Posted 12:25 AM 9/10/08
Hitting new lows here.. but am I the only one who found the blond lego lady kind of sexy?
Maksimir
Herman
Posted 12:23 AM 9/10/08
That man is my idol.
Herman
Stang70Fastback
Posted 12:18 AM 9/10/08
@DarthTader: The kinds of people who pay for these things ARE just hollow shells though...
Stang70Fastback
Y2KGTP
Posted 12:54 AM 9/10/08
Do you also get the video of construction of the model with the cool music?
Just need some proof that a live person builds your model for you.....
Y2KGTP
jewsrock
Posted 12:46 AM 9/10/08
I wanna see the" before" pictures of the real people
jewsrock
Nintenboy01
Posted 1:07 AM 9/10/08
Eew, Lego cleavage
Nintenboy01
Noobs-R-Us
Posted 1:35 AM 9/10/08
Wow, this guy is so good that he can glue the bricks as he goes along. Most people would first build it and take it apart before gluing.
Noobs-R-Us
SpiffySteve
Posted 1:29 AM 9/10/08
They will have Lego sex dolls in the pipline
SpiffySteve
Lupison
Posted 1:21 AM 9/10/08
I can see this as Jesus's retirement party.
Lupison
Phishy
Posted 1:46 AM 9/10/08
I guess for $60,000 I would try and see just how artistically awesome this guy is (no doubts or anything, its just that for $60k I want to see some results!)
Imagine sending him a kick as photo while wearing a plaid sweater vest and plaid pants. I wonder if he can make a herringbone texture out of legos?
Phishy
feckineejit
Posted 1:41 AM 9/10/08
@Numerous:
I'd buy 30,000 chalupas.
feckineejit
Matronix
Posted 2:09 AM 9/10/08
@Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->: Ah maybe Jesus meant in the US not the World. But true, we are ahead of the LEGO curve... Gold Medal for the US.
Matronix
Jrsy is the dude, playing the dude, disguised as another dude
Posted 2:07 AM 9/10/08
This is cool but (the cost aside) I don't think I'd want one of me. And if I were to give something like this to a girlfriend or wife I'd probably have to hear, "Does this Lego make me look fat?" for an eternity...
No thanks.
Jrsy is the dude, playing the dude, disguised as another dude
Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
Posted 2:02 AM 9/10/08
How much for a bust of my Avatar?
Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
Posted 2:01 AM 9/10/08
@Matronix: Looks like there are only three in the US. Which means we're ahead in the LEGO Certified Professional gap.
Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
orangesrhyme
Posted 1:59 AM 9/10/08
Do you get half off if you're a midget? Or Yoda? Of course, if Yoda I was, then wording the previous sentence differently I would be.
orangesrhyme
Darascon
Posted 2:43 AM 9/10/08
The urge to just drop kick the sh!t out of a lego person would be far far far too strong to justify buying this. I mean, The joys of watching 6'5" of lego just erupt from a flying kick to the chest would be hysterical, especially in slow motion.
Darascon
radeon21
Posted 3:18 AM 9/10/08
@Nintenboy01:
Ooh, Lego cleavage
radeon21
Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
Posted 3:57 AM 9/10/08
@Jesus Diaz: Lego Nipples?!?! The mind boggles.
Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
Jesus Diaz
Posted 3:49 AM 9/10/08
@Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->: How much for just a bust?
Jesus Diaz
Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
Posted 3:58 AM 9/10/08
@Jrsy is the dude, playing the dude, disguised as another du...: Yeah, but if she thought it did, she could re-build it to make it NOT look fat. Not saying you do look fat honey::ducks flying plant::.
Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
dascoyne
Posted 8:20 AM 9/10/08
Am I going to be the first to say it?
The lego sculptures look nice but - the blonde doesn't look anything like the lady in the picture. The pose is nice but for $60K? cmon.
dascoyne
erikislame
Posted 11:41 AM 9/10/08
In case someone is looking to see a photo of the LEGO Stephen Colbert:
[farm3.static.flickr.com]
erikislame
Wolfess
Posted 6:22 PM 9/10/08
It's really weird looking at these, I keep thinking I'm seeing pixels.
Wolfess