Fall Gallery Reception: Brick by Brick, A Lego Portrait Gallery by Ira Malis

What happens when a retired financial executive, a few forgotten tubs of LEGO bricks, and a spark of creativity collide?

You get Brick by Brick, a captivating exhibition of portrait mosaics by Baltimore artist Ira Malis. Created using just a handful of colors and thousands of LEGO pieces, these striking works transform ordinary bricks into extraordinary images of musicians, comedians, actors, athletes, and cultural icons.

Visitors to Third Space may already recognize a few familiar faces. We are proud to display Malis’s portraits of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sammy Davis Jr., and Bette Midler year-round. This fall, we’re expanding the collection with more than two dozen additional portraits filling our walls—many available for purchase.

An artist by doing rather than by training, Malis discovered his medium when his teenage son outgrew his LEGO collection. Inspired by the work of artist Chuck Close, whose larger-than-life portraits revealed themselves only when viewed from a distance, Malis began experimenting with LEGO mosaics that work in much the same way. Up close, they’re a fascinating arrangement of colored bricks. Step back, and a face suddenly appears.

For the past fifteen years, Malis has created these portraits simply for the joy of making them and sharing them with friends. Third Space is delighted to host the first public exhibition of this remarkable collection.

Come see how a child’s toy, an artist’s eye, and thousands of tiny bricks can create something unforgettable.