Muhammed Izaan, a 10-year-old prodigy from Bahrain, is stunning the art scene with incredible mosaic portraits made from a simple toy … the iconic Rubik’s Cube. 

A student at Capital School Bahrain, Muhammed is captivating audiences by turning a childhood passion into an impressive craft, creating intricate portraits using hundreds of cubes.

Muhammed’s love for the Rubik’s Cube began early. “I started solving cubes when I was just four years old,” he explains. “From that moment, it became an exciting challenge and passion.” Over the years, he has mastered multiple variations of the puzzle, including shape-shifting and gear cubes. However, his fascination with mosaic art took his skills to another level.

“The inspiration to create Rubik’s Cube portraits came from international cubers,” he says. “I saw people making detailed portraits with cubes, and I thought, ‘Why not give it a try myself?’” With 500 cubes at his disposal, Muhammed carefully plans each design by pixelating images and solving cubes to fit the pattern.

Each portrait takes between 90 to 120 minutes to complete. While the process is enjoyable, certain details require extra attention. “The most challenging part is working on facial features, especially the eyes. The colours have to be placed precisely to get the right look,” he explains.

His first large-scale portrait was of Harry Potter, a character he admires. “I love reading and Harry Potter is one of my favourites. Seeing my first big portrait come together was an exciting moment.”

Since then, Muhammed has created over 30 portraits of renowned personalities, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Amitabh Bachchan and Mr. Bean. He has showcased his work at various events, from Dana Mall to Thai Mart, often drawing large crowds. “Creating art in front of a live audience is exciting,” he beams. “People come up to me, take pictures and congratulate me. It’s a great feeling!”

One of his proudest moments was an event where he presented a portrait of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. “Bahrain MP Dr Maryam Al Aldhain personally congratulated me. That recognition meant a lot,” he reminisces. “Another highlight was receiving a personal message from an Indian movie star after completing his portrait. It was a huge surprise and motivated me even more.”

Muhammed’s ambitions extend beyond his current work. “I want to create a massive artwork using 3000 to 4000 cubes, and maybe even attempt a world record. I’m also exploring smaller portraits with micro cubes as gifts.”

For those looking to try Rubik’s Cube art, Muhammed advises: “First, master the 3x3 cube. Once you’re confident, start experimenting with colours and patterns. It takes patience, but it’s worth it.”

Grateful for his parents’ unwavering support, Muhammed remains focused on expanding his craft. “This journey has been incredible. I’ve met inspiring people, broken records and discovered so many opportunities. I’m excited to see where this takes me next.”

Tags #Rubik’s Cube portraits #Rubiks Cube #Muhammed Izaan #interviews #interview #btm april 2025