Lego artists show their imagination in Sarasota's first BrickUniverse

By Ian Swaby
| 12:05 p.m. November 23, 2025

Mark Lorah created a Lego version of the Imperial Theatre in Augusta, Georgia.

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Mark Lorah recently retired from a career as a structural engineer, but he hasn't stopped creating structures. He's just using a different material now.

He enjoys having the chance to showcase his hobby of creating with Lego bricks, at events like the BrickUniverse Sarasota Lego Fan Expo, held Nov. 22-23 at Robarts Arena.

"It's one of those things where people say, retire, but only if you've got something to do," Lorah said. "Well, I have something to do, but the main purpose for doing this is to help inspire children, kids, and when I say kids, I'm talking about kids of all ages, because everybody enjoys Lego."

Attendees had the chance to view creations that included works by Lorah, like a Lego recreation of the dome of the U.S. Capitol Building featuring 40,000 bricks, various space travel-themed creations by Lia Chan, and works by other artists.

The event also featured building zones and rare Lego items available for purchase.

"(The artists) symbolize to adults, especially that it's okay to still create with Lego and children, it gives them something to look up to, and to be inspired by," said co-founder and CEO Angela Beights.

Lia Chan showcases the launch effect with her Lego rocket to Joe Spath, fairgrounds operator Rory Martin, Jordan Evans and Scott Martin.

Snoopy and Woodstock land on the moon in a piece by Lia Chan.

Rocky Worth, 10, looks at the space Legos on display.

Hoss Maslouski created a scene featuring ice drilling.

Hudson Barnett, 4, shows his work to his grandmother Elizabeth Henson, while his brother Nolan Barnett builds a Lego creation alongside him.

Anderson Evjen, 18, created a "Star Wars" themed Lego set based on the Battle of Kamino.

The battle takes place in Anderson Evjen's "Star Wars" Lego set.

Recently retired structural engineer Mark Lorah created a Lego version of the U.S. Capitol dome.

Mark Lorah tried to replicate the structural features of the U.S. Capitol in his Lego model. "There's quite amazing truss work and everything that hopefully I was able to recreate relatively well," he said.

Oscar Gonzalez and Julietta Gonzalez, 10, build with Legos.

Mark Lorah replicated part of Michaelangelo's "Creation of Adam" with Lego. He said he initially struggled to get the shadows right with the limited color palette of Lego, but at the suggestion of an exhibitor friend, ended up building the piece in three dimensions and allowing the light to fall naturally.

A "Wicked" Lego set was among those created by Stacy Moser.

Andrew Ruddell created replicas of multiple scenes from the American Revolution including George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River.

Reese DeLoach, 5, gets creative with the Legos.

A shelf at the event is filled with Lego figures for sale.

Kit Abrams, 4, James Abrams, Jason Abrams, 6, and Catherine Abrams view one of Mark Lorah's Lego creations.

Mati Stack hopes that her numbers from zero to 9, which are differently themed and open to reveal playable environments inside, will become an official Lego set.

A secret room reveals Stormtroopers in a hot tub in Anderson Evjen's "Star Wars" Lego set.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.