Most of you should be familiar with Eero "Pate Keetongu" Okkonen. His MOCs have been gracing the pages of BrickNerd since we started over three years ago. His style is quirky, in both building and life, and he has a fun and optimistic outlook that I think you'll find endearing.
Read MoreThe name Kosmas "Kos" Santosa should be very familiar to readers of BrickNerd. His build style, imagination and photography skills are so good that just about everything he posts gets blogged here. I realize that sort of makes me a bit of a fanboy, but I defy you to argue against it. He is also very active in the Indonesian as well as online AFOL community, furthering the hobby with generosity and a singular wit.
Read MoreThere are a handful of builders out there that are synonymous with quality in my mind. Builders that are so good that I don't even need to see what they've posted to know that I'm blogging something soon. Tyler "Legohaulic" Clites is one of these builders. I've been enjoying and blogging his MOCs for years, and it's time we all got to know him a little better
Read MoreI've come to expect several things in my daily browsing of Flickr: To be amazed that Yahoo has changed yet something else, someone will have a picture of a LEGO Stormtrooper doing something, and a new MOC from Karf. I can think of no more prolific builder than this unassuming man from down under, and he continuities to amaze and delight me with daily offerings of whimsy and humor.
Read MoreThe list of AFOLs that have actually visited my little studio here in Lompoc "middle of nowhere" California is pretty small. Not many are willing to make the long trip out of the way. So when Jimmy Forte (AKA 6kyubi6) and his lovely wife were visiting from France and willing to make the 3 hour trip from Los Angeles to visit, I was delighted. We ended up spending most of the day together, toured my dinky studio, had lunch at my favorite local burger joint Tom's, shared wine and mexican food at my house later and had a great time.
Read MoreOne of the things I most love about the AFOL community is it knows no borders and speaks a common language. I have contact with builders from all over the world, and very much enjoy sharing their work on this blog. Through it I have made friends in so many countries I've lost count. It also exposes me to different pop culture, that while I may not completely understand, I can totally appreciate. One of these builders is Mike Dung. He's one of the reigning kings of manga builders, and his lovely characters are responsible for a great many Google searches on my part, but all worth it.
Read MoreThere are few in the castle genre that haven't heard of David Hensel, AKA Legonardo Davidy, and there are a great many outside the theme (and AFOL community) that have marveled at his creations. His unorthodox, fluid and organic style is eye catching and splendid, and he is a pioneer of building techniques.
His work continually leaves me in awe, and his down-to-earth attitude and humble personality make his MOCs even more appealing. I'm very happy to let you all get to know him a little better.
Read MoreI was recently scrolling through all the previously featured builders and thought it was really about time I featured a female. I know the hobby is hugely gender-skewed to the dumber of the sexes (myself included guys) but there are some amazing lady builders out there and I'm past due featuring one. Coincidently about that same time I stumbled across Episode 108 of Beyond The Brick featuring Mel Finelli and I thought her story, her MOCs and her outlook on life were great.
Read MoreWhen I met Ed Diment back in 2010 it was immediately evident I was speaking to an AFOL of particular dedication. Of course I met him in the shadow of his phenomenal USS Intrepid, which at 22 feet long just stopped you in your tracks while you picked up your jaw. I soon after discovered he's also a very likable, funny guy with a love for life just as powerful as his passion for the bricks.
Read MoreChris McVeigh is one of those builders who has something for everyone. I'm not saying that his portfolio is so vast that he's bound to have done something to please you, I'm saying that his work is so clean, so appealing and so invested with heartfelt nostalgia, that it's irresistible.
Read MoreFor a great many admirers, myself included, Jon Hall rules the skies. His whimsical, detailed and imaginative aircraft have been delighting LEGO fans for years. Not only are they expertly designed and built, but Jon takes so much care in the photography and photo editing that his work simply stands alone. And it's not just brick, Jon takes meticulous care to design a pilot for every craft, and beautiful stickers that rival official LEGO stickers. Each piece is a work of art, from the spinner to the rudder, and everything in between.
Read MoreSomeone once described Andrew as "too cool to be one of us, yet he is" and I thought that summed up Andrew pretty well. He's definitely cooler than me. Yet he's not afraid to let his geeky side show, with an open love of most things nerdy. He also happens to be one of the most talented builders in the AFOL scene, even winning the latest round of Iron Builder. With his shades on, a beer in one hand and a mind-blowing MOC in the other, Andrew brings the party to wherever he is.
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Ever since I discovered the AFOL community (you mean I'm not the only one?) I've been a fan of Brandon's work. His building style is clean and whimsical, and rooted in art and pop culture. His diverse portfolio spans multiple genres and building styles, and bridges the LEGO fan world and the general public. All of his work has a touch of humor (and sometimes more than a touch) and a broad appeal.
Read MoreIf any of you read my article in issue 16 of BrickJournal you know I spent nearly a year in London in 2010-2011. You'll also know that one of the things that kept me sane was spending time with the guy that became my best mate across the pond, Pete Reid. We drank a lot of tea, built a lot of MOCs and did a lot of photography.
Read MoreThe highlight for me of San Diego Comic-Con was speaking on the BrickJournal: LEGO as an Art Form panel with Nathan Sawaya, Brandon Griffith and Joe Meno. Nathan was especially entertaining and informative on the panel, and let's face it, the real star. He was well-spoken, charming and everything I'm not. He's also one of, if not the, greatest brick artists in the world.
Read MoreIain Heath is a character, and I mean that in the best way. From his quirky sense of humor, his funky building style to his hilarious and excellent website, The Living Brick, Iain never fails to entertain.
Read MoreIf you've spent any time viewing excellent LEGO creations you've probably seen some work by this artist. Bruce is an exceptionally talented builder and his creations are universally loved.
Read MoreAugust is here with a fresh selection of LEGO contests and challenges. Don’t miss your chance to build a MOC and maybe even win some awesome LEGO prizes. With Frogust, Paradisa, and even some stop-motion in the mix, there’s plenty of inspiration to start building!
Sometimes the best LEGO projects solve problems nobody actually has. Follow the design of the Kong-o-Matic 2000, a motorized machine that plays LEGO Donkey Kong so you don’t have to!
From color palettes to clever part choices, building LEGO Pokémon at minifig scale takes skill and a sharp eye for detail. We chat with Radioactive Cheese about how he brings his Pokédex to life.
Bio-Cup 2026 is underway, and Round 1 challenged builders to bring Magic & Mysticism to life. From enchanted castles to eerie mechanical creatures, these are some of the builds that stood out to us. With a new format and Round 2 now open, there’s still time to join the competition!
Did you know that there are photos of entire LEGO themes that never were released as products? Join us as we take a deep dive into these lost themes from space to European architecture and beyond!
How do you connect a tiny Danish town to the rest of the world? If you're The LEGO Group, you build an airport. Discover how the humble Billund airstrip took off, becoming an international gateway for LEGO fans everywhere.
Many people recognize La Catrina, but far fewer know her story. LEGO builder Dulce Gomez shares the history behind one of Mexico’s most enduring cultural symbols and why it means so much to her.
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