Jonathan Lopes
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Comment: Is the Morris Museum a permanent collection? SwisterTwister talk 02:22, 27 January 2017 (UTC)
Jonathan Lopes (born July 16, 1969) is a San Diego, California-based artist who is known for creating realistic models, sculptures, and contemporary artwork utilizing LEGO bricks as a medium.
Jonathan Lopes | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 16, 1969 Atlantic City, New Jersey |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Art, sculpture |
Early Childhood and Career
Lopes was raised in southeastern Massachusetts where as a child he pursued creative avenues such as drawing, printmaking, and composing music. Additionally, LEGO bricks were his toy of choice growing up. Having only a small assortment of pieces, he continually designed and redesigned his own creations from the same set of pieces. Jonathan Lopes has always been an out-of-the-box thinker and naturally creative. These attributes set the foundation for his creative future.
In 1990, at the age of 20, Lopes moved to New York City to pursue a career as a musician.
Career
LEGO Artist
After sidelining his musical ambitions at the age of 28, Jonathan Lopes ventured into utilizing LEGO as a creative outlet. Shortly thereafter, he designed what would become his first urban landscape made with LEGO bricks in his Boerum Hill, Brooklyn studio. This landscape, complete with urban grit and weathered buildings and landscapes, which was featured prominently across online blogs, magazines, fan sites, newspapers etc. From the media attention, Jonathan Lopes' creative career as an artist was established.
His early hired works echoed the attributes and characteristics of his Urban Landscapes when he was asked to replicate Oklahoma City’s Myriad Botanical Gardens, as well as being hired to replicate Harlem's Apollo Theatre for display at the Toys R Us in New York City’s Time Square shortly thereafter. Currently, selections of Lopes’ work are permanently placed at Morris Museum in Morristown, New Jersey as well as corporate installations at the offices of various book publishers, an industry Lopes has worked in for years.
Well know works include a 12 foot long replica of New York City’s Manhattan Bridge and an 8 foot tall replica of New York City’s Woolworth Building. Both were built for gallery exhibits and built to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of each landmark.
BrickUniverse Conventions
Jonathan Lopes has been a mainstay at the BrickUniverse LEGO fan conventions since 2015 as the featured artist appearing at all of the shows. He exhibits approximately 30-35 works at each convention as well as presenting sessions on his project development and creative processes along with his building philosophies and techniques.
Notable Public Displays
- Hachette Book Group, USA in New York, New York
- Toys R Us, in New York, New York
- Oklahoma City Scapes, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- BrickUniverse Conventions: 2015-2016: Raleigh, NC, Irving, TX, Columbus, OH. Plano, TX, Tulsa, OK, Dallas, Texas.
- BrickUniverse Conventions: 2017 – Louisville, KY, Oklahoma City, OK, Raleigh, NC, Knoxville, TN, Tulsa, OK, Cleveland, OH.
- The Morris Museum, Morristown, New Jersey
Personal Life
Jonathan Lopes is married to children’s book author Marcie Colleen. In 2015, after 13 years living in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, they relocated to San Diego, California.
References
External Links
Category:1969 birthsCategory:Living peopleCategory:American ArtistsCategory:People from Boerum HillCategory:Lego People