Brick Planet: Lego Sculptures Map Earth’s Ecosystems at Denver Museum of Nature & Science

DENVER — The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is hosting Brick Planet, an immersive exhibition of large-scale Lego sculptures by award-winning artist Sean Kenney. Open now and running through May 3, 2026, the temporary show uses more than 1.5 million Lego bricks to illustrate Earth’s ecosystems — from coral reefs and polar seas to savannas and urban habitats.

“We’re excited for Museum guests to experience our world’s incredible biodiversity through Brick Planet,” said Dr. Bridget Chalifour, DMNS’s exhibition curator. “From emperor penguins to a praying mantis and colorful coral reefs, the exhibition offers a fantastic window into how organisms live and work together through symbiosis — and it does so in a way that’s engaging and fun for all ages!”

Kenney, who has toured his Lego exhibitions internationally since 2012, designed and built the Denver installation from over 1.5 million bricks. Alongside the detailed sculptures, the exhibit features interactive stations and immersive sound and lighting design that invite guests of all ages to explore, create, and learn.

Interactive activities

Visitors can build their own Lego creations at dedicated stations, sketch observations in provided journals, and play a magnetized game that complements the themes on display. Many installations include hands-on or motion-based interactives designed to illustrate animal adaptations and ecological connections.

Galleries and highlights

Our Planet

This gallery blends scenic design and layered soundscapes. Guests can view a giant monarch butterfly and engage with an interactive Lego world map that highlights global biodiversity.

Polar Brrrricks

Focused on the Arctic and Antarctic, this section features soundscapes, polar bears and emperor penguins. Visitors are encouraged to waddle like a penguin and explore interactive displays about the adaptations that help animals survive in extreme cold.

Ocean Odyssey

A sweeping school of fish made entirely from Lego bricks moves through this gallery, enhanced by immersive lighting that places the sculptures in a vivid underwater scene. Guests can also build their own coral and sea creatures at hands-on stations.

Savannah Crossing

Home to Kenney’s striking “disappearing rhino,” this gallery highlights rhino conservation and the interconnected life of the savanna. Large-scale zebra and wildebeest sculptures illustrate herd dynamics and habitat relationships.

Walk in the Woods

Using Kenney’s playful “Sean-oculars,” visitors can view the world as if it were brickified. Sculptures and displays emphasize forest biodiversity and the importance of healthy, interconnected ecosystems.

Connect in the City

This gallery prompts visitors to consider urban design, sustainability, and how built environments influence the natural world and its wildlife.

Our Own Backyard

Sculptures of gardeners and a chain of pollinators illustrate how everyday actions — like planting a garden — link local spaces to global ecosystems.

Admission: Brick Planet is included with museum membership and general admission; no additional ticket purchase is required to visit the exhibit.

Note: The exhibition combines art, education and play to make ecological concepts accessible and memorable for families, students and adults interested in the natural world.