# Building Block Portraits Playing with Chuckie by Joe Black is a LEGO Masterpiece By Harris Jay Rosenberg Alterman | Published 2012-01-24 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/playing-with-chuckie References: [bitrebels](http://www.bitrebels.com/design/chuck-close-portrait-created-using-only-lego/?) & [mrjoeblack](http://www.mrjoeblack.com/art/?p=185) Playing with Chuckie is a breathtaking tribute to iconic photorealist Chuck Close. Using thousands of [LEGO](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lego-ideas-bob-ross) pieces, Joe Black has created a portrait of the cigarette-smoking legend. When viewed up close the artwork appears to be nothing more than a bunch of building blocks in random formation; however, the farther one backs away from the image, the more a picture of a man with thick-framed glasses and a mustache appears. Joe Black even made the portrait in three different color schemes inlcuding black and white and sepia. While most children build castles and bulldozers out of [LEGOs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/girl-with-a-pearl-earring-1), they would never come close to constructing something as magnificent as Playing with Chuckie. So remember that you don't have to be a kid to make something out of building blocks. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.3/10 - Popularity: 87% | Activity: 93% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Photorealistic LEGO Art:** New trend in creating photorealistic portraits and art using LEGO blocks. - **3-dimensional Block Art:** A growing trend of creating 3-dimensional art using building blocks. - **Upscaled Building Blocks:** A trend of using building blocks as a medium for large scale art pieces. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Art and Design:** Opportunities for artists and designers to showcase their creativity through nontraditional mediums such as building blocks. - **Entertainment and Events:** Increasing demand for LEGO art to be displayed at events, such as product launch and trade shows. - **Architecture and Construction:** Usage of building blocks as a medium for architectural visualization and prototyping, leading to faster construction projects. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Iconic Artist Toy Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lego-ideas-bob-ross.md) - [Pop Art-Style Blocked Portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-in-red.md) - [Building Block Art Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/art-project-create-together.md) - [Iconic Painting-Inspired Puzzle Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/girl-with-a-pearl-earring-1.md) - [Iconic Artwork Toy Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lego-art-mona-lisa-set.md) - [Contemporary Art Puzzle Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/modern-art-building-set.md) - [Building Block Launderettes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/launderette-of-dream.md) - [Artwork-Inspired Building Block Kits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lego-hokusai-the-great-wave.md) - [Insanely Intricate LEGO Cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lego-rollsroyce.md)