Syreeta Gates, founder of the Most Incredible Studio, is revolutionizing cultural preservation through LEGO art. Her studio creates sculptures, custom kits, and minifigures that celebrate Black culture and history. Gates, the first Black woman featured on LEGO Masters, combines her skills as an archivist with her passion for storytelling to build unique pieces that connect generations.
“Every brick we place is a step toward immortalizing the essence of who we are and where we come from,” states the studio’s manifesto. This philosophy drives Gates’ mission to create LEGO sets that might one day be discovered in “grandma’s attic” by future generations.
From Architecture to Cultural Expression: How Gates Discovered LEGO
Gates didn’t grow up playing with LEGOs. Instead, she discovered the colorful bricks as an adult during regular visits to Barnes & Noble.
“I got to LEGO by way of books,” Gates shared. “I used to go to Barnes and Noble regularly. I’m a big romance novel girlie.” During these visits, she noticed the LEGO Architecture collection. With her father being an architect, the sets naturally appealed to her.
Soon, Gates found herself collecting and building the entire architecture series. She even turned it into an educational activity with her nephew, building famous landmarks and then visiting them in person. Yet something felt missing in the LEGO world that spoke to her own cultural experiences.
Building What’s Missing in Black Cultural Representation
Gates quickly realized there was a gap in cultural representation within the LEGO space. This discovery aligned perfectly with her career-long commitment to creating what’s missing.
“I want to bring culture to LEGO in a way that it’s never been possible,” Gates explained. “Obviously because I am a Black woman, first and foremost, I’m looking to myself to see what’s missing inside that space.”
Her work has resonated with audiences and brands alike. The Most Incredible Studio has collaborated with numerous companies that appreciate Gates’ authentic storytelling approach. Through instruction booklets, packaging, and the sets themselves, she brings culturally relevant narratives to life.
Archiving Black History One Brick at a Time
With a master’s degree in moving image archiving and preservation, Gates brings scholarly expertise to her creative work. This background “a trillion percent” informs her artistic process at Most Incredible Studio.
“My grandmother passed when I was 21 years old. She was born in 1926, and I wanted to figure out how I can ensure that she lasts forever,” Gates recalled. This desire to preserve family history sparked her interest in archiving.
When creating LEGO sets, Gates digs deeper than surface-level representations. “We want to tell stories through LEGO and our packaging,” she explained. “What is the story we want to tell? How do people interact with it? How can people learn from it?”
“Because of You”: Celebrating Black Photography Through LEGO
A recent collaboration between Most Incredible Studio and Because of Them We Can produced “Because of You: Legacy in Focus.” This project transforms photography into LEGO art.
The set features buildable camera and photo frame pieces. It celebrates “the power of storytelling and the enduring legacy of capturing Black creativity, history, and community through the lens of a camera.”
For Gates, this collaboration made perfect sense. Photography connects deeply to her personal history – her parents met in a photography studio, and her mother is a photographer. Similarly, Because of Them We Can began as a photo campaign featuring young people reimagined as historical Black figures.
Building a Lasting Legacy Through Play and Cultural Connection
When asked about her vision for Most Incredible Studio’s legacy, Gates hopes their work will transcend generations. She envisions someone discovering their LEGO sets in “grandma’s attic” a century from now.
“Legacy looks like people, and not even just Black people, people, period, can see our LEGO sets and identify with the stories that we told,” said Gates. “Legacy looks like having an opportunity for our work to bring joy to ourselves and other people.”
Through her innovative approach to LEGO art, Gates is creating more than toys. She’s building a “tangible archive” of Black culture and history that can educate, inspire, and connect generations through the universal language of play.
For future collaborations, Gates has one simple criterion: “We just want to work with people who are value-aligned and have a vision.” This approach ensures that each brick placed contributes meaningfully to preserving cultural narratives that might otherwise be overlooked.