LEGO Reviews Art31197

Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe

Name: LEGO Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe 31197
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 31197
Rating: 4.8 (786 reviews)

92 · HIGHLY RECOMMENDEDINVESTMENT GRADE: AAA20203,341 pcsHigh agreement · 98%

Expert reviews

2analyzed

Owner ratings

786

Consensus

BUY

BrickScore

Highly Recommended

Owners

Synthesized Verdict

Where to Buy

Amazon

Out of stock

Buy

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LOVED (8)

01Uniquely captures the essence of Warhol's artistic process and pop art movement
02Colour combination choices perfectly symbolise the original artwork's mass-production nature
03Set functions as both tribute and continuation of Warhol's art
04Thoughtfully designed to appeal to art enthusiasts, collectors, and LEGO fans alike
05Truly unique build experience compared to other LEGO sets
06Special final build that justifies the premium price for those who appreciate art
07Exceptional cost-per-brick value ($0.04 CAD)
08Soothing, relaxing build experience similar to adult colouring books

CRITICIZED (7)

01High price point at £114.99 makes it inaccessible for many
02Budget becomes prohibitive if attempting to buy multiple copies to create a completed quartet
03No minifigures included, which some may view as a drawback
04Vast majority of pieces are flat 1×1 round tiles (not traditionally satisfying parts selection)
05One-and-done entertainment value from the audio soundtrack
06Creating all 4 image variations requires purchasing additional sets at significant cost
07Paint-by-numbers build style leaves no room for creative error or deviation

What reviewers are saying

"This is not a complicated build. But it is a very soothing one."

True North Bricks

"31197 Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe is currently the only LEGO Art set directly based on a piece of art."

Brick Fanatics

Ecosystem

31203 World Map — Both are LEGO Art sets. World Map is referenced as the only other reviewed LEGO Art set to date, limiting comprehensive theme statistics, but the Marilyn set still earns a stellar score of 94% when compared across all reviewed sets.

31199 Marvel Studios Iron Man — Both are LEGO Art sets with similar paint-by-numbers build processes, but 31197 stands out as the strongest work in the LEGO Art theme for its more direct connection to art rather than pop culture icons.

31200 Star Wars The Sith — 31200 is based on a pop culture icon, whereas 31197 is based directly on a piece of art, making 31197 more thematically aligned with the 'LEGO Art' branding.

31198 The Beatles — 31198 is based on famous photographs of the band, whereas 31197 is based on a piece of art by Warhol, giving 31197 a more unique identity within the LEGO Art range.

ArtTier 2Investment Grade

By Reviewer · 2

Avg score

Consensus

BUY

True North Bricks

Expert Video Source

BUY

"This is not a complicated build. But it is a very soothing one."

Key Pros

✓Exceptional cost-per-brick value ($0.04 CAD)
✓Soothing, relaxing build experience similar to adult colouring books
✓High-quality 98-minute accompanying audio soundtrack with interviews and artist insights

Key Cons

✕Vast majority of pieces are flat 1×1 round tiles (not traditionally satisfying parts selection)
✕One-and-done entertainment value from the audio soundtrack

JUMP TO REVIEW

Brick Fanatics

Expert Video Source

BUY

"31197 Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe is currently the only LEGO Art set directly based on a piece of art."

Key Pros

✓Uniquely captures the essence of Warhol's artistic process and pop art movement
✓Colour combination choices perfectly symbolise the original artwork's mass-production nature
✓Set functions as both tribute and continuation of Warhol's art

Key Cons

✕High price point at £114.99 makes it inaccessible for many
✕Budget becomes prohibitive if attempting to buy multiple copies to create a completed quartet

JUMP TO REVIEW

Dimensional Analysis

Investment Layer

Buy now (0)Wait for sale (0)

Exclusivity

True North Bricks: LEGO-exclusive; part of the inaugural LEGO Art theme launched September 2020

The Brothers Brick: Available globally from LEGO and various retailers starting August 1st, except in US which has September 1st launch.

Minifigures & Standout Parts

Standout parts (per reviewers)

1×1 round tiles (flat pieces)
The vast majority of the 3,341 pieces are flat 1×1 round tiles, which form the mosaic image
16×16 Technic base squares
Nine pieces total serve as the foundation grid sections; described as the biggest individual pieces in the set
New clip part for wall hanging
Described as making wall hanging easy and safe, a departure from the typical gamble of hanging LEGO
1x1 rounded tiles
Used in the paint-by-numbers building process; an evolution from 1x1 rounded plates in the Iron Man set
1 x 1 round tiles in many new colors
16 re-colors of tiles used to create the bold color-blocking of Warhol's pop-art style; many new colors introduced
16 x 16 stud mosaic plates (9 per set)
New element; interlocking base plates forming portrait canvas