A groundbreaking, full-color celebration of Black creativity and cultural impact—told through expressive LEGO® sculptures and compelling biographical storytelling. Based on an award-winning, museum-exhibited art project, Awesome Black Creativity invites readers of all ages to explore an A–Z gallery of Black icons whose contributions shaped culture, community, and history.

Awesome Black Creativity is a stunning visual tribute to the artists, activists, athletes, thinkers, and trailblazers whose influence continues to shape our world. Each entry pairs a richly photographed LEGO® portrait—crafted by LEGO Masters (USA) alumnus and award-winning artist Dave Kaleta—with an accessible, insightful biography written by Brooklyn-based cultural journalist Richard Dryden.

Originally launched as a 26-week creative collaboration on Instagram, the ABC project quickly gained national attention. It won Best Artwork at Brickworld Chicago 2022, toured as a traveling museum exhibit across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada in partnership with the DuPage Children’s Museum, and earned recognition from cultural institutions, celebrities, and even the Estate of Nina Simone. Support from figures like Questlove helped propel the project into the spotlight as an innovative, heartfelt intersection of Black culture and LEGO artistry.

This book continues that journey—offering readers a beautifully designed, deeply meaningful collection that honors Black creativity across generations. From Kehinde Wiley to Marsha P. Johnson, Gordon Parks to Serena and Venus Williams, each portrait invites reflection, celebration, and conversation. It is a book meant for homes, classrooms, libraries, museums, and anyone inspired by the idea that creativity can build bridges.

A groundbreaking, full-color LEGO art book that celebrates Black creativity and cultural impact through expressive brick sculptures and accessible biographical storytelling.

Based on an award-winning, museum-exhibited art project, this one-of-a-kind A-Z gallery features 26 portraits of cultural icons reimagined in LEGO, from Toni Morrison and Sidney Poitier to Serena and Venus Williams.

This LEGO® art book is a visual tribute to the artists, activists, athletes, thinkers, and trailblazers whose influence continues to shape our world. Created by LEGO Masters (USA) alumni Richard Dryden and Dave Kaleta, each entry pairs a richly photographed LEGO portrait — built by Kaleta in his signature Miniland Plus sculptural style — with an accessible, insightful biography by Dryden, a Brooklyn-based cultural journalist.

Inside this LEGO art book:

• 26 full-color LEGO portraits of Black visionaries built in natural skin tones, photographed for display
  
• Engaging A-Z biographies spanning music, art, literature, activism, sports, and fashion, written by cultural journalist Richard Dryden
  
• Featured icons include Kehinde Wiley, Marsha P. Johnson, Oprah Winfrey, Gordon Parks, Toni Morrison, Serena and Venus Williams, and Sidney Poitier
  
• Behind-the-build insights revealing the creative choices, part usage, textures, and colors behind each sculpture
  
• Built on an award-winning, museum-exhibited foundation, with the original project winning Best Artwork at Brickworld Chicago 2022 and touring as a traveling exhibit across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada
  
• Endorsed by cultural figures and institutions including Questlove and the Estate of Nina Simone, with coverage from EBONY, CNET, and NPR
  

This is not a how-to guide. It is a celebration of LEGO as a medium for portraiture and cultural storytelling, designed for display, discussion, and inspiration in homes, classrooms, libraries, and museums.

LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group of companies, which does not sponsor, authorize, or endorse this book.