Mitchell Tsai

[Video] http://cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/07... Since CNN spoke with LEGO artist Nathan Sawaya a year ago, his popularity has skyrocketed. Just check out his clientele. - Mitchell Tsai via Bookmarklet

Donald Trump recently asked Sawaya to create a replica of the new hotel he's building in Dubai. With 10 days to complete it, and only architectural renderings to work from, Sawaya toiled away in his Manhattan studio snapping tiny bricks together, barely sleeping, to finish the curvy 10-foot statue in time for its unveiling. - Mitchell Tsai

Sawaya built a 4-foot bumblebee for Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz to offer his new bride, Ashlee Simpson, as a wedding gift. Stephen Colbert wanted a piece of the action too. The comedian invited Sawaya on his show last August to present a life-size LEGO Colbert replica. - Mitchell Tsai

"The Art of The Brick," one of two of Sawaya's collections touring North America, features "Red," "Blue" and "Yellow," three life-size pieces depicting human forms in startling poses that have brought Sawaya much attention and praise. - Mitchell Tsai

The other exhibit on display -- at the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, Florida -- shows 20 pieces he built over the past year. Sawaya says one of those pieces, "Grasp," was inspired by his frustration with people who have doubted his ability to make a full-time career out of LEGO sculpting. - Mitchell Tsai

Wow, if he's not married, we need to fix him up with MONA asap!!! - Anna Haro

It seems the joke's on them. - Mitchell Tsai

Sawaya, a former attorney who said, "The worst day in the art studio is still better than the best day in the law firm," couldn't be busier, with commissions pouring in from all around the world. - Mitchell Tsai

LOL Anna... - Mitchell Tsai

[Update] This article was updated a few hours later at http://cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/07... to add a video http://cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/07... - Mitchell Tsai

" CNN: How does being a LEGO artist pay now? Sawaya: Fortunately, being an artist doesn't mean starving ... as some might think. Luckily, my work is in high demand, and the sculptures are selling for tens of thousands of dollars." nice :) - Jemm

My cousin's electronic sculptures sold for $5,000+ a few years ago. Not sure what he gets now... - Mitchell Tsai

Link to CNN's 2007 article "Man builds a living out of LEGO" [CNN - 6/1/07] http://friendfeed.com/e/ffa749... - Mitchell Tsai

I always knew, since age 6, there had to be some career that involved Lego skill! - anna awesomesauce

In Japan, our family visited the Sony building (in Osaka, I think), and there were LEGO sculptures of 4-5 famous buildings around the world. I wonder if they were Nathan Sawaya's? - Mitchell Tsai