He pays his rent in Legos
Even if you're not familiar with Nathan Sawaya's name, chances are you know his work. They're those big, beautiful artworks made of Lego bricks.
Sawaya never went to art school, and he didn't anticipate making a living from a children's toy. Before he became a world-renowned artist, he was a lawyer in New York. At the end of long days, he found himself desperate for a creative outlet.
Nathan Sawaya at his The Art of the Brick exhibition
Then, the idea came to him to try using Lego bricks. Soon, he found he was spending almost as much time working on his sculptures as he was at his day job. He set up a website and started to take commissions. When his website crashed from too many hits, he realised that there may be something more to his Lego sculptures.
Not long after, he quit his job to pursue his art full-time. But it was not an easy transition. As a lawyer, he enjoyed a high salary and all the benefits of being in the corporate world. But as a Lego artist, he didn’t know if he was going to work, or be able to pay the rent.
The Key to My Mind - a Lego sculpture from Sawaya
Fortunately for Sawaya, it’s a gamble that has since paid off. He's traveled the world via The Art of the Brick, his global touring exhibition, which has showed in over 70 cities across five continents.
Another Lego sculpture from Sawaya
While it took a while for Sawaya to realize his true calling, there were clues that he might one day become the world's premier Lego artist. He said,
"When I was 10, I wanted to get a dog, but my parents said no. So what did I do? I built my very own life-sized dog out of Lego."
Aside from the obvious signs of having "made it” - such as a 50-foot billboard in Times Square and meeting presidents, rock stars and celebrities – Sawaya’s most successful moment came at a book signing, when he was approached by a little boy bearing his own Lego creation.
Times Square in New York city
He explained,
"It was a model of one of my sculptures, and he was sharing it with me, saying he was so inspired by my work that he built his own version of it. It's so special when you know you're inspiring others."
If you are passionate about something, it can pay to follow your dream.
(All images - credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence)
