Ryan McNaught Australian artist, certified LEGO specialist Country: Australia

1. Australian artist and LEGO Certified Professional
2. A career in LEGO
3. A passion from childhood
4. Award-winning creations
5. Notable projects
6. Advice to aspiring LEGO professionals

Australian artist and LEGO Certified Professional

Ryan McNaught, also known as The Brickman, is an Australian artist and LEGO Certified Professional. He is one of only thirteen certified professionals in the world and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere. Ryan has gained fame for his various creations made entirely out of LEGO bricks. Despite being married and raising twin sons, Ryan admits that he will never fully grow up. He has been building with LEGO bricks for decades and has become a master of his craft.

A career in LEGO

Before becoming a LEGO artist, Ryan worked as an IT manager for a large company that stifled his creativity and self-expression. However, he made a career change and became a LEGO Certified Professional. His job involves creating interactive models and building prototypes that not only inspire people but also allow them to interact with his creations. Ryan became one of the key figures in the celebration of LEGO's 50th anniversary in Australia, where he showcased his incredible models at a special festival.

A passion from childhood

LEGO bricks have always been one of Ryan's favorite toys since childhood. He would spend hours flipping through catalogs, dreaming of all the wonderful sets. Over time, his collection of LEGO bricks grew exponentially, and he now has over five million bricks in his LEGO studio. Ryan's models have garnered attention from both adults and children, and he enjoys witnessing their reactions of astonishment and joy.

Award-winning creations

Ryan's talent and dedication have earned him numerous awards for his LEGO creations. His models have been featured in news articles and magazines. Despite his success, Ryan cherishes his free time with his family and values their support. His passion for LEGO has also taken him around the world, as he travels for LEGO-related projects and events.

Notable projects

Ryan's notable projects include a giant model of the 'Qantas A380' airplane, equipped with LEGO Mindstorms technology and a computer with a touch screen, which he showcased at the Brickworld convention in Chicago in 2010. Unfortunately, the model was damaged during transport, but it remains one of Ryan's favorite creations. He also built a four-meter-long 'Love Boat' using 250,000 LEGO bricks. Additionally, Ryan has been commissioned by various companies and event organizers to create LEGO models for exhibitions, meetings, and even museums.

Advice to aspiring LEGO professionals

Ryan advises young children who aspire to become LEGO Certified Professionals to excel in their studies, especially in mathematics. Building with LEGO bricks often requires intricate calculations. He was particularly inspired by a giant three-story dragon he saw in Florida, and his most recent personal project was building a replica of the Roman Colosseum using 200,000 LEGO bricks.