LEGO and Belvedere Museum Collaborate on 'The Kiss' Art Set
In a groundbreaking collaboration, the LEGO Group and Vienna's esteemed Belvedere Museum have unveiled a spectacular 4,000-piece LEGO art set inspired by Gustav Klimt's masterpiece, "The Kiss." This innovative project transforms the renowned painting into a tactile, three-dimensional building experience, marking LEGO's most extensive artistic creation of its kind. The set is designed to capture the essence of Klimt's iconic work, inviting art enthusiasts and LEGO builders alike to engage with art in a novel and immersive way. This initiative highlights a growing trend of merging traditional art forms with contemporary mediums, making masterpieces accessible to a broader audience.
Details of the Artistic Collaboration and Product Launch
The collaboration between the LEGO Group and the Belvedere Museum in Vienna has culminated in the creation of an extraordinary 4,000-piece LEGO set, meticulously designed to replicate Gustav Klimt’s celebrated painting, “The Kiss” (1907–08). This remarkable set, the most ambitious painting-inspired endeavor from LEGO to date, will be available for acquisition beginning August 1st, 2026, with a retail price of $299.99.
Unlike the flat, original masterpiece, this LEGO interpretation of “The Kiss” is ingeniously crafted to be three-dimensional. Builders, aged 18 and above, will assemble various sections of the artwork layer by layer, adding considerable depth to Klimt’s initial two-dimensional vision. Furthermore, departing from traditional paper instructions, this set will incorporate interactive 3D building guides accessible through the LEGO Builder application, enhancing the construction experience.
Stephanie Auer, the Belvedere Museum’s curator of 19th- and 20th-century art, played a pivotal role in this project, working in close conjunction with Milan Madge, a master model designer at LEGO. Their joint effort focused on ensuring the LEGO set authentically captures Klimt’s distinctive artistic style, characterized by rich textures, intricate details, and a luminous color palette. This meticulous approach aimed to embody the emotion and ornamental grandeur synonymous with the Austrian modernist painter and the Vienna Secession movement. Both Auer and Madge are scheduled to elaborate on their collaborative journey in an upcoming LEGO podcast episode, also slated for release on August 1st.
The physical dimensions of the LEGO set have been carefully adapted. While Klimt’s original painting is a perfect square measuring 180×180 centimeters (approximately 71×71 inches), the scaled-down LEGO version measures 60×54 centimeters (23.5×21 inches) with a depth of 4 centimeters (1.5 inches). A practical feature of the completed LEGO artwork is its integrated hanging mechanism, allowing it to be easily displayed on a wall, much like a traditional painting.
This venture builds upon LEGO’s previous successes in reinterpreting famous artworks. The company has released sets inspired by Claude Monet’s “Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies” (in partnership with the Metropolitan Museum of Art) and Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” (with the Van Gogh Museum). Additionally, LEGO has independently produced sets based on Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” Robert Indiana’s “LOVE,” and Hokusai’s “The Great Wave.”
Milan Madge reflected on the endeavor, stating, “Recreating Klimt’s ‘The Kiss’ in LEGO brick form presented a distinctive creative challenge, demanding that we encapsulate its opulent textures, golden hues, and elaborate details while honoring the original masterpiece.” He highlighted the use of golden LEGO elements and specially decorated pieces to faithfully reproduce the artwork’s unique shades and textures, providing a building experience that truly celebrates its extraordinary beauty.
This innovative partnership between the LEGO Group and the Belvedere Museum signifies a compelling fusion of art and play, creating a unique pathway for audiences to engage with and appreciate historical masterpieces through a modern, interactive lens. It’s an inspiring example of how creativity and collaboration can bridge different worlds, making art more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.