Home News > We Build LEGO Vincent van Gogh - Sunflowers, Which Contains a Hidden Surprise for Art Lovers

We Build LEGO Vincent van Gogh - Sunflowers, Which Contains a Hidden Surprise for Art Lovers

by Sadie Apr 18,2025

The first thing to know about the LEGO Art Vincent van Gogh - Sunflowers set is its impressive size. At 21 inches high and 16 inches wide, this build is approximately 60% the size of the original painting. Its dimensions make it a substantial piece, one that's large enough to be unwieldy when picking it up, underscoring its presence as a serious work of art.

LEGO Art Vincent van Gogh – Sunflowers

$199.99 at LEGO Store

This set is not just a playful tribute to one of the world's most renowned artworks; it's designed to be hung in your home as a piece of art. This distinction is crucial as LEGO continues to evolve from a mere adult curiosity to a respected adult hobby.

LEGO Art Vincent van Gogh – Sunflowers

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Vincent van Gogh painted his iconic series of Sunflowers during his time in Arles, France, a period marked by prolific creativity. Van Gogh's emotional connection to the sunflower was profound, associating it with gratitude. He considered it his artistic muse, famously stating in a letter to a friend:

*"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 revisited this theme in January 1889, producing 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 celebrated. 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 color composition, is showcased at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The Van Gogh Museum, established in 1973, collaborated with LEGO to bring to life the LEGO Vincent van Gogh - Sunflowers set, a tribute to the F458 repetition. This set is crafted as a three-dimensional relief, utilizing 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.

The build process is practical and engaging. You start by constructing the painting's frame, which you can lean against the wall as you progress. Next, you build the canvas with the painting on top of it.

The final step involves mounting the canvas into the frame and securing it with pins, adding a personal touch that mirrors the real-life process of staging and presentation, enhancing the set's perceived value and importance.

An intriguing Easter egg is hidden within 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 space. LEGO cleverly replicates this detail by having you build the canvas and then attach a separate strip at the top with pins. This detail, circled in red in the photo below, uses brown bricks to mimic wood.

This seemingly superfluous detail is what makes the build so special. It's a subtle nod to the imperfections and creative process of a master artist, known only to the builder, adding a layer of exclusivity and personal connection to the set.

Building the full-bloom sunflowers can be tedious, but it's a necessary part of achieving the realistic look. The repetitiveness mirrors van Gogh's meticulous approach. Take breaks and savor the process; this isn't a set to rush through.

I particularly enjoyed constructing the wilting flowers and those shown in profile. Initially, they seemed abstract, but stepping back reveals their purpose as stems and leaves, adding depth and realism to the piece.

A common question among adult LEGO enthusiasts is, "Where do you display your sets?" For this set, the answer is clear: on my dining room wall. This set is designed to be displayed, and knowing its final destination adds to the anticipation and enjoyment long after completion. A week after finishing it, I still find new details to appreciate.

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