The World's First Female LEGO Artist

Okay, I know it's a little bit of self promotion, but if no one else knows, you have to tell them yourself.  My name is Mariann Asanuma and I am a Freelance LEGO Artist.  I have been a LEGO fan as long as I can remember.  In 2003 I achieved one of my childhood dreams and became a LEGO Master Model Designer.  I was actually paid to play with LEGO.

I worked at LEGOLAND California for five years, four of them as a LEGO Master Model Designer.  I have built everything from a life-sized pirate, a four foot long ladybug, and the Miniland Las Vegas Sign. 

Since leaving LEGOLAND in 2007, I have written a book, "How to Build a Round Ball with Square Bricks!"  It teaches children and adults alike how to build a LEGO ball.  It is the start of a series of books call "Building Secrets from the Masters."  In each book I will show new models, tips and tricks on how to build LEGO models like the Master Model Builders. 

I also do commission LEGO models for companies and individuals.  Just recently I worked for Warner Brothers Interactive and built a mosaic for the LEGO Batman Video Game Launch Party at the Natural History Museum in New York. 

I didn't think much of what I was doing, or that I was breaking new ground until Dan Parker, one of only six LEGO Certified Professionals in the world (all men by the way), pointed it out to me.  I am the only Female LEGO Freelance Artist in the world.  Never has the fact that LEGO is mainly a "boy's toy" been so clearly noticeable to me.  Now I admit, it is a rather small field to begin with, there are only about ten Freelance LEGO artists in the world today.  And there are other women that work for LEGO and LEGOLAND all around the world, but there has never been another female doing Freelance LEGO models. 

You can check out more of my work on my website at http://www.modelbuildingsecrets.com