WEY AYE LEGO MAN EXHIBITION
Our Lego Story
Where It All Began
Wey Aye LEGO Man began in 2024 as a creative photography project led by Ngage NE Ltd, bringing together neurodivergent people and people with learning disabilities to explore photography in a fun, accessible and imaginative way – with LEGO minifigures at the heart of every picture.
LEGO has a particular appeal for many neurodivergent people because it combines familiarity, creativity and imaginative play. Minifigures provide an accessible way to create characters, tell stories and express ideas, while offering a shared interest that helps people connect without the pressure of traditional social interaction.
At the heart of Wey Aye LEGO Man, participants don't need to feel comfortable having their own photograph taken or being the centre of attention. Instead, LEGO minifigures become the stars. They are transformed into characters, placed in imaginative scenes and photographed against real-world locations, allowing every photographer to tell their own miniature stories and share a unique perspective on the world.
From Workshops to an Exhibition
The very first Wey Aye LEGO Man exhibition was held at Ouseburn Farm in Newcastle in 2024, showcasing the creativity and talent of the project's photographers and laying the foundations for what would become an annual event.
Since then, participants have taken part in regular photography workshops and walkabouts, experimenting with everything from macro photography and long-exposure light painting to high-speed water splashes and outdoor photography at iconic locations across Newcastle. Every photograph is given its own imaginative title, often inspired by playful LEGO-themed wordplay.
One of the most rewarding moments each year is seeing participants walk into a professional gallery and see their work beautifully displayed on the walls for the very first time. For many, it's the first time they've thought of themselves as artists. Watching visitors admire their photographs, hearing the positive feedback, and then seeing their work sell in the exhibition's silent auction is an incredibly powerful confidence boost that celebrates their creativity in a truly meaningful way.
Growing Bigger Every Year
In May 2025, Wey Aye LEGO Man moved to One Strawberry Lane in the centre of Newcastle. The exhibition featured an even bigger collection of work and raised £1,909.65 through its popular silent auction. The project also received national recognition, winning the Creative Arts Award at the 2025 Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards in Birmingham.
The 2026 exhibition returned bigger than ever. Alongside work from our own photographers, schools, community groups and artists from across the UK were invited to customise LEGO statues in their own unique style, which were exhibited alongside the LEGO portraits created by our neurodivergent photographers. We were also delighted to welcome special guests including Dame Chi Onwurah MP and Lord Shipley, who joined us to celebrate the creativity on display and bid on their favourite LEGO portraits.
Building Skills and Confidence
Today, Wey Aye LEGO Man is much more than an annual exhibition. Working alongside Adam, our professional photographer from Visual Voice, participants develop their photography skills through creative workshops and photography walkabouts, learning new techniques and capturing the world from a minifigure's point of view.
With Adam's expertise, encouragement and creative support, photographers are empowered to experiment, develop their own creative style and produce work they can proudly exhibit each year.
Looking to the Future
With the fourth annual Wey Aye LEGO Man exhibition planned for May 2027, the project continues to give people opportunities to be creative, develop new skills, build confidence and connect with their communities. By combining the familiar appeal of LEGO minifigures with the creative possibilities of photography, Wey Aye LEGO Man provides a fun and accessible way for people to express themselves – and, most importantly, to see their creativity recognised, celebrated and shared with others.
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