Local Charleston Artist Recreates Landmarks Using LEGO
April 11, 2026
April 11, 2026
Charleston is famous for its beautiful and unique architecture, historic buildings, and rich history. The city is one of a kind and truly a treasure. Many admire the city's beautiful cityscape, and now you can also build it. Chris Boyd, a local artist, has recently recreated two of Charleston’s most iconic landmarks, Rainbow Row and the Old Exchange Building, using LEGO bricks. Known for the colorful pastel facades of Rainbow Row and the grand columns of the Old Exchange Building, these recreations are currently on display at the Old Exchange Building for the next year.
The LEGO model showcases two of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, the colorful townhouses of Rainbow Row and the historic Old Exchange Building. Chris Boyd built the model to an impressive scale, complete with multiple fine details that truly make it feel like the Holy City. The display is currently on view at the Old Exchange Building on the cross section of Broad and East Bay Street, where visitors can see it up close for the next year. Before making an appearance in the city where it was based, it was proudly shown off at Atlanta Brick Con, a major LEGO fan convention.
Chris Boyd is a LEGO artist who has built eye-catching custom models using his own imagination. The Charleston landmarks project is one of his most ambitious works to date. This project took over a year of planning, sourcing parts, and careful construction between both the Rainbow Row and Old Exchange Building portions. He studied the buildings closely, working to capture every arch, column, and window detail to get a perfect replication. You can follow his work on Instagram and visit his website, where he also sells instructions for some of his builds so other LEGO fans can recreate his designs.
What makes Boyd’s Charleston model truly stand out is the level of detail put into every section. The model includes the cobblestone streets of Charleston, architectural features, interior furnishings, dolphins along the seawall and harbor of Charleston, as well as the famous horse carriages of the historic district. Part of what makes this so significant for Charleston locals and visitors alike is that, surprisingly, LEGO has never released an official Charleston set, and it is truly one of a kind.
If you’re in Charleston, Chris Boyd’s LEGO recreation of Rainbow Row and the Old Exchange Building is worth a visit. The model is on display at the Old Exchange Building and will be there for the next year, giving both locals and visitors plenty of time to check it out. It is truly a piece of art and a masterpiece that celebrates this city in the most uniquely creative way.
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