Some 80 sculptures, over 600,000 tiny plastic bricks, and recreations of some of the world's most iconic masterpieces.

The Art of the Brick exhibit of American Nathan Sawaya opened in Rome on Oct 28, giving Italians a taste of how artistic inspiration can mingle with playfulness, and pour out through a most "surprising" material.

"The exhibition captures people's curiosity and imagination, and is being shown for the first time in Italy. So far, Rome's audience has surely met our expectations," Italian curator Fabio La Gioia told Xinhua.