The Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa turned into a showcase of jaw-dropping brick artistry this weekend as the Brick Fan Event drew builders from across the country — including some familiar faces from the television competition show "LEGO Masters."
Displays stretching several feet wide filled the venue alongside hundreds of custom creations built by fan hobbyists. Among the featured builders was Mark Erickson, winner of "LEGO Masters" Season 2, who encouraged anyone with even a passing interest in the hobby to come out and connect with the community. "If you like Lego at all, if you like art at all and talk to some fun, cool people, it's a great time," Erickson said.
Former contestant Corey Samuels said his time on the show sparked a mission to pass the craft on to younger builders. After the show, he launched an LLC focused on teaching kids to build with LEGO bricks and partnered with Brick Fan Events to bring that enthusiasm directly to families. Fellow contestant Niki Loheit, 52, offered a different kind of inspiration — she only picked up the hobby at age 47 while helping her homeschooled children build a city together, and hasn't stopped since.
Organizers have not announced whether or when the Brick Fan Event will return to Tampa. Information and quotes in this article were gathered by FOX 13 Tampa Bay from broadcast footage and on-site interviews at the Florida State Fairgrounds.
