LEGO Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers Unveils Hidden Surprise for Art Enthusiasts

The first thing to know about the LEGO Art Vincent van Gogh – Sunflowers set is its impressive size. It stands at 21 inches high and 16 inches wide, which is approximately 60% the size of the original painting. This makes it large enough to be quite unwieldy when you're trying to pick it up and move it around.

Out March 1### LEGO Art Vincent van Gogh – Sunflowers

0$199.99 at LEGO StoreThis set is not just a playful build; it's a serious piece of art that commands respect. It's a tribute to one of the world's most iconic artworks, and it's designed to be displayed as art in your home. This reflects LEGO's ongoing journey from being seen as a mere adult curiosity to becoming a respected adult hobby.

LEGO Art Vincent van Gogh – Sunflowers

93 ImagesVincent van Gogh painted his renowned series of Sunflowers during his time in Arles, France, marking a prolific period in his artistic career. He had a deep emotional connection to the sunflower, associating it with gratitude and viewing it as his artistic muse. In a letter to a friend, he wrote:

"If [Georges] Jeannin has the peony, [Ernest] Quost the hollyhock, I indeed, before others, have taken the sunflower."

In August 1888, van Gogh created four versions of sunflowers in a vase, and he revisited this theme in January 1889, painting a repetition of the third version and two different repetitions of the fourth version.

Among these seven paintings, the fourth version and its two repetitions are the most recognized. The original fourth version (F454) is displayed at the National Gallery in London, England. One repetition (F457) can be seen at the Sompo Museum of Art in Tokyo, Japan, while the other repetition (F458), known for its vibrant colors and iconic status, is showcased at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The Van Gogh Museum, established in 1973, collaborated with LEGO to create the LEGO Vincent van Gogh - Sunflowers set, a tribute to the F458 repetition. This set is crafted as a three-dimensional relief, using abstract pieces to mimic van Gogh's distinctive thick brushstrokes.

Upon opening the box, you'll find 34 numbered bags and a printed instruction booklet with a QR code. Scanning this code leads to a podcast that delves into van Gogh's life and the inspirations behind his work.

I found the build's practical approach quite appealing. Initially, you construct the painting's frame, which can be leaned against a wall. Then, you build the canvas with the painting on top of it.

You complete the set by mounting the canvas into the frame and securing it with pins. This process adds a personal touch, mimicking the real-life staging and presentation of art, enhancing the perceived value and significance of the finished piece.

An exciting Easter egg is hidden in the canvas's construction. Art experts discovered that van Gogh extended the height of the canvas with a wooden strip during the painting process to give the sunflowers more room. LEGO playfully replicated this by having you build the canvas and then attach a separate strip at the top with pins. This detail, highlighted in red in the photo below, is made with brown bricks to resemble wood.

This seemingly superfluous detail is what makes the build so special. It's a hidden feature that only the builder knows about, adding an element of exclusivity and a sense of the creative process's trial and error. You can choose whether to share this secret with others when displaying your masterpiece.

Building the full-bloom sunflowers can be tedious, but it's unavoidable given the level of detail required to make them look convincing. The repetitiveness mirrors van Gogh's dedication to his craft. Take breaks and enjoy the process; this isn't a set to rush through.

I particularly enjoyed constructing the wilting flowers and those depicted in profile. At first, they seem abstract, but stepping back reveals their role in the overall composition, adding realism and depth.

The most common question I get from fellow adults is, "After you build a LEGO set, where do you put it?" For this set, the answer is straightforward: on my dining room wall. This is a great way to approach this build; you know exactly where it will go once finished. You can anticipate enjoying it long after the build is complete. It's been a week since I finished it, and I still find new details to appreciate. This is the first outstanding LEGO set of 2025, and it comes highly recommended.

LEGO Vincent van Gogh - Sunflowers, Set #31215, retails for $199.99 and comprises 2615 pieces. It is available exclusively at the LEGO Store.