Exploring The Art of the Brick Lego Exhibit with Kids (Franklin Institute, Philadelphia)

Disclosure: We received passes to check out The Art of the Brick Exhibit from the Franklin Institute in exchange for an honest review of our experience. No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% our own.

Unless you have been living under a rock, if you’re at all local to the Philadelphia, PA area, you have most likely seen advertising for The Art of The Brick Lego Exhibit at the Franklin Institute. Though if your schedule looks at all like ours, we didn’t know if we would have the chance to get to the city to see this one before it skips town. We managed to find a pocket of time yesterday morning and decided that THAT WAS THE DAY. We took the kids downtown on the train and headed to the Franklin Institute for a look. If you can possibly fit it into your schedule, I highly recommend checking out The Art of the Brick before it leaves Philadelphia on 10/4/15.

The Art of the Brick is a special exhibition that has traveled to cities overseas and now is making its way across America. Currently on display at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, these sculptures and pictures are all created entirely with Legos by Nathan Sawaya. This exhibit is something that you really just have to SEE with your own eyes. I took so many pictures, but I promise, seeing it in person is a whole different experience.

The Art of the Brick is a timed-ticketed event. Meaning – you must purchase admission to the Franklin Institute and then additionally purchase a ticket to see The Art of the Brick Exhibition. The Art of the Brick ticket comes with a time printed on it and you can enter as soon as the time on the entry desk reflects the one on your ticket.

I have to admit – I had NO idea what to expect. Yes, okay, I knew I’d see some stuff built from Legos. But I never expected the variation, the detail, the depth or the scale of what we saw.

Think about it – it all starts with ONE BRICK.

Allow me to present some favorites!

All around the first room are Lego-replicas of some of the world’s most famous paintings…

I loved this quote from Nathan Sawaya.  I especially loved watching it come true in front of my eyes.  <3

From the room full of “paintings” we moved on to famous sculptures.  Some were small, some were huge.  Some seemed to be shouting that they wanted some “gum gum.”  ;)  All were amazing.

Here is just a sampling of some of my other favorite sculptures.  Check out that 20-foot long T-Rex!

This was amazing –

We loved the nod to the tour’s current city, Philadelphia, by way of the Liberty Bell!

One of Nathan’s most well-known Lego creations – titled “Yellow.”

As you wind your way out of the exhibit, make sure you check out the big Lego-inspired play area for kids downstairs behind the concessions area.  You will find several different stations, appropriate for big kids (and kids at heart) all the way down to toddlers.  My kids had a blast!

Make plans to see this exhibit before it leaves town!  For ticketing information and hours, head to Franklin Institute’s website.