It's not often you get to own a classic masterpiece and have the fun of building it yourself—and that's exactly the experience we're diving into today! We're unboxing the latest from the LEGO Ideas line, set to release on June 1, 2022: 21333 Vincent van Gogh - The Starry Night!
This stunning creation was first designed by Hong Kong-based LEGO fan Truman Cheng (@legotruman), who submitted it to the LEGO IDEAS platform. After achieving 10,000 votes of support and being refined by official LEGO designers, it has become the 41st official set in the Ideas series, clocking in at 2,316 pieces. The most significant change from the original fan design is the addition of a black frame, which dramatically enhances the set's artistic presence. The design also cleverly utilizes printed pieces to meticulously capture the stars in the deep blue night sky!
▼ The front of the box features the LEGO version of "The Starry Night" against a sophisticated black background with an olive-green LEGO brick texture. In the bottom-right corner, you'll find the logo for The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York (The MoMA acquired "The Starry Night" for its permanent collection in 1941).
▼ The back showcases the set displayed on a wall, along with its dimensions (28 cm high, 38 cm long), close-up details, and other information.
▼ The top of the box also features the English title, "The Starry Night."
▼ The parts are divided into 19 bags, numbered up to 9.
▼ The instruction booklet's cover, themed after the painting itself, is fantastic! Inside, you'll find information about Van Gogh, "The Starry Night," and the original fan designer, Truman Cheng.
▼ Alright, let's get building!
▼ Early in the build, you create the attachment points for the cypress tree.
▼ The back is equipped with a piece for wall mounting.
▼ The massive moon is gorgeous, even down to the colors used in its inner structure!
▼ The swirling nebula is built section by section onto the blue night sky, using layered plates to create incredible depth.
▼ The frame truly elevates this set's display value and reinforces the theme of it being a buildable painting. LEGO could totally use this format to create paintings by other artists in the future!
▼ Displaying it without the black frame offers a different, but still interesting, aesthetic.
▼ Connecting the artwork to the frame completes the main build!
▼ Below the sky are the houses and church of Saint-Rémy, with the hills in the distance. The layered visual effect is incredibly impressive!
▼ Even though parts of the background are covered once the cypress tree is attached, there are still many clever details hidden behind it.
▼ The cypress tree, which appears as a dark flame reaching for the sky in the painting, has a noticeably brighter tone in its LEGO form, feeling less heavy than in the original artwork.
▼ Let's take a closer look at the details. The brushstrokes, recreated using stacks of basic plates, and the vibrant colors of the swirling nebula are captivating.
▼ Some of the printed tiles for the shining stars in the night sky have a beautiful translucent quality.
▼ The moon radiates a powerful glow, almost like a sun.
▼ The set includes a Vincent van Gogh minifigure and a miniature easel with a tiny print of "The Starry Night." As for the minifig, forget about the missing ear—this one has no ears at all!
▼ You can display him alongside the main build using the included stand.
▼ Here's a look at the scale when displayed with the minifigure!
LEGO Ideas 21333 Vincent van Gogh - The Starry Night: Final Thoughts
LEGO isn't just a toy for kids to build and rebuild; it's a medium for creating sophisticated home decor pieces for adults. We've seen it with the Typewriter, the Globe, and the wildly popular Botanical Collection. This LEGO version of "The Starry Night" is another absolute masterpiece that collectors will want to add to their homes. Not only do you get to appreciate the recreation of the painting's iconic brushstrokes and its wall-mountable displayability (similar to the LEGO Art series), but it also boasts incredible depth and texture. Once completed, you can admire this brilliant, classic masterpiece from multiple angles. Even if you don't hang it on the wall, it can be displayed securely on a shelf using the support stand, and it looks stunning wherever you place it! The inclusion of the exclusive Vincent van Gogh minifigure makes it all the more appealing.
LEGO 21333 Vincent van Gogh - The Starry Night
Piece Count: 2316
Release Date: June 1, 2022