Lavishlump x Blacklug — Where Communities Collide/Touhou Through Brick Series

Wes Royer
Jan 20
6 min read

Some connections don’t feel manufactured — they feel inevitable.

I was first introduced to Lavishlump’s work through his incredible Bartholomew Kuma (One Piece) MOC, and instantly knew I wanted to build it for my personal collection. I even remember commenting my appreciation on Instagram (not that he needed my validation), but when something hits, you say so.

Like many creative spaces, there’s always a natural crossover of genres and fandoms. As an avid manga reader, anime fan, and longtime lover of One Piece, this felt like home territory. Then came the first images of his Edward “Whitebeard” Newgate build — another powerful tribute to the series — and I found myself once again in the comments asking if it would be available. The response? “Hopefully soon.”

Since then, our connection has grown through DMs — organic, genuine, and rooted in mutual respect for creativity. Lavishlump has consistently been open, welcoming, and encouraging, and there’s been an unspoken understanding between us: that shared energy of creators who recognise each other across different communities. Plus we now have Marshall D "Blackbeard" Teach

That’s why I’m proud to now be platforming Lavishlump’s Touhou collection of builds through Blacklug. His work is yet another example of how fandoms, cultures, and creative spaces naturally intersect — anime, gaming, brick art, storytelling — all colliding into something richer.

This feature marks the first of many entries exploring Touhou through Lavishlump’s builds, spotlighting not only the series itself but the depth, consistency, and imagination of an outstanding creator whose work deserves wider recognition.

This collaboration isn’t just about LEGO.It’s about culture crossing culture.It’s about fandom meeting fandom.It’s about the way creative communities connect beyond labels, platforms, or borders.

And that spirit sits at the very heart of Blacklug.

Creator Spotlight: Lavishlump

Platform: Instagram - lavishlump_art

Known for: Character-driven LEGO MOCs inspired by anime, manga, and gaming

Featured Works: Bartholomew Kuma, Edward “Whitebeard” Newgate, Touhou Character Series

Creative Style: Expressive builds, strong character silhouettes, faithful source detail with artistic interpretation

Lavishlump is a creator whose work lives at the intersection of fandom, storytelling, and brick-built art. Known for translating iconic characters into LEGO form with clarity and personality, each build feels less like a model and more like a portrait.

What sets Lavishlump apart is not just technical execution, but intent. Every figure carries presence. Every design choice feels deliberate. Whether drawing from One Piece or Touhou, his builds honour the original material while still feeling uniquely his.

At Blacklug, we champion creators who build culture — not just models.Lavishlump is exactly that.

“This is the kind of work that doesn’t just represent fandom — it elevates it.”

Touhou Project — A World Built on Imagination

The Touhou Project is a long-running Japanese indie game series created by developer ZUN, and it has become one of the most influential creative fandoms in the world. At its core, Touhou is a series of bullet-hell shooter games — fast, intense games where players dodge intricate patterns of glowing projectiles while facing powerful characters with deep personalities and lore.

But Touhou is more than just a game.

Over time, it has grown into a massive fan-driven universe of music, artwork, storytelling, animation, cosplay, and community collaboration. It’s a space where creativity thrives — where fans don’t just consume content, they expand the world themselves. That spirit of open creativity is exactly why Touhou resonates with builders, artists, and storytellers across cultures.

The setting of Touhou takes place primarily in Gensokyo, a hidden land where humans, youkai (spirits), gods, and magical beings coexist — sometimes peacefully, sometimes not.

Touhou Through Brick — A Blacklug x Lavishlump Series

This ongoing monthly series explores the world of Touhou Project through the brick-built interpretations of creator Lavishlump.

Each entry highlights a different character from the Touhou universe, not only celebrating their design and lore, but also showcasing how LEGO can be used as a tool for storytelling, cultural expression, and fandom translation.

Touhou itself is a franchise powered by community creativity — and Lavishlump’s work sits naturally within that tradition. These builds are not replicas. They are interpretations. Conversations. Artistic responses.

This series exists to:

Platform an exceptional creator
Celebrate cross-community culture (anime, gaming, LEGO, art)
Introduce new audiences to Touhou through visual storytelling
Honour the power of fan-driven creativity

This is just the beginning.

Touhou Through Brick — Chen by Lavishlump

🐾 Chen

Title: The Shikigami Cat

LEGO Lens: The Freestyle Builder

Creative Focus: Playfulness • Chaos • Improvisation

Chen reflects the builders who don’t plan — they feel their way through builds. Pieces get thrown together, ideas evolve mid-build, and the final result is full of personality.She represents the joy of messy creativity: building for fun, not perfection.

This charming chibi-style build captures Chen, the playful shikigami cat from Touhou Project, in beautifully stylised brick form. Designed by Lavishlump, the model balances cuteness with craftsmanship — from the expressive face and layered hair shaping, to the clever use of colour blocking in the outfit and hat.

The build isn’t just a character model, it’s a moment frozen in motion. The subtle pose, the tiny companion cat, and the simple environmental base all contribute to a sense of personality and story. It feels alive.

This is exactly the kind of work Blacklug exists to platform:fan culture translated into brick art with care, intention, and identity.

Touhou Through Brick — Nitori Kawashiro by Lavishlump

⚙️ Nitori Kawashiro

Title: The Kappa Engineer

LEGO Lens: The MakerCreative Focus: Engineering • Function • Innovation

Nitori is the embodiment of LEGO culture. Gadgets, mechanisms, tools, inventions — she is every builder who loves gears, levers, moving parts, and functional design.

She represents STEM builders, Technic engineers, robotics creators, and anyone who treats LEGO like a prototyping lab.

This playful, floating build captures Nitori Kawashiro, the inventive kappa of Touhou Project, in beautifully stylised brick form. Designed by Lavishlump, the model blends charm with clever engineering — from the spinning rotor detail above her cap to the translucent water base complete with lily pads and reeds.

The build feels light, dynamic, and full of character. The hovering pose gives the impression of motion, while the clean colour blocking and shaping keep Nitori instantly recognisable even in chibi form.

It’s a perfect reflection of Nitori herself:creative, technical, and quietly brilliant.

Another standout entry in Lavishlump’s growing Touhou collection, and another example of how fandom, design, and brick artistry continue to intersect in powerful ways.

Touhou Through Brick — Rumia by Lavishlump

🌑 Rumia

Title: The Youkai of Darkness

LEGO Lens: The Conceptual BuilderCreative Focus: Contrast • Symbolism • Negative Space

Rumia inspires builds that play with light vs dark, hidden elements, and conceptual meaning. Think blacked-out builds, shadow boxes, silhouettes, or models where the story is revealed only when you look deeper.

She represents builders who create with metaphor, not just aesthetics.

This striking chibi build brings Rumia, the youkai of darkness from Touhou Project, into sharp brick-built focus. Designed by Lavishlump, the model leans into contrast — bright colour palette, soft expression, and playful pose — while quietly hinting at the deeper duality that defines the character.

The simplicity of the composition is what makes it powerful. Clean shaping, expressive eyes, and a floating pose give the build personality without overcomplication. It’s minimal, but intentional — letting character come before spectacle.

Like Rumia herself, the build balances cute and unsettling, light and shadow, showing how much storytelling can live inside a small, thoughtful model.

Another strong entry in Lavishlump’s growing Touhou collection, and another example of how character, culture, and creativity continue to meet through brick art.

Lavishlump’s Touhou collection stands as a powerful example of what happens when fandom, craft, and community align. Each build is more than a character translation — it’s a thoughtful interpretation, shaped with intention, personality, and respect for the source material. Together, these works form a growing visual conversation between Touhou culture and brick art, one that reflects the same collaborative spirit that defines both the Touhou community and Blacklug itself.

This is only the beginning.A follow-up feature spotlighting the next wave of Lavishlump’s Touhou builds is coming soon.