2026 Joint Mathematics Meetings
Steve Butler
Artists
Steve Butler
Morrill Professor
Iowa State University
Ames, IA, USA
Statement
I enjoy working with LEGO because there is tremendous flexibility in what can be accomplished with the side variety of shapes and connections that are possible. And part of the fun and challenge is not thinking about what something was made for, but what it can be. And LEGO is surprisingly good at capturing interesting mathematical objects.
Artworks
Level-3 Sierpinski tetrahedron made from LEGO
37.0 x 44.5 x 38.5 cm
LEGO
2025
This Sierpinski tetrahedron has gone through three iterations of removing the center and is formed from LEGO by building 64 small tetrahedrons and then using these to build up each additional level. This particular construction has the challenge of making each small tetrahedron geometrically accurate, light (so that minimal supports are needed), small (to be able to go to a third level iteration), and able to connect to form the large structure. This is achieved by being able to pivot on the edges of the tetrahedron to form the dihedral angle of the tetrahedron of just over 70 degrees.
Two intersecting tetrahedron in LEGO
27.0 x 27.0 x 27.0 cm
LEGO
2025
LEGO was originally built off of right angles so was not designed for the angles that arise in many geometric shapes, and particularly not designed for shapes passing through each other. So the challenge of two intersecting tetrahedron was a pleasant task. The final shape also emphasizes the relationship of the two tetrahedron and the encompassing cube.