Portrait of Caitlin Clark crafted by University of Iowa dental student using 720 Rubik's Cubes

Rubik's Cubes and Caitlin Clark may seem like an odd pairing.

To University of Iowa dental student Brian Dang, they represent a perfect blend of his passions.

The fourth-year, first-generation student will graduate next month as a self-described nerd.

And he's proud of it.

Dang and his brother, an engineer 20 years older, would often fiddle with Legos growing up.

Eventually, Dang moved on to Rubik's Cubes. His brother "could never figure it out," Dang said. "And I just like to suffer a little bit."

Dang honed his craft, cutting his "solve time" from hours to minutes to mere seconds. He became such an expert that he sought a greater challenge, one with an artistic twist.

Dang was drawn to three-dimensional art as he worked his way through dental school. He was captivated enough to incorporate Rubik's Cubes into portraits, setting off a new wave of artistry.

Dang's latest piece is likely his most awe-inspiring.

Dang's time in Iowa City has coincided with the meteoric rise of Iowa women's basketball guard Caitlin Clark, a phenom that left Dang "starstruck."

Clark's record-breaking play influenced Dang to combine his recent passion for art with his new appreciation for women's basketball.

He chose to merge the two with the help of several hundred Rubik's cubes.

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Clark portrait features 720 Rubik's Cubes

Dang's portrait of Clark started by pixelating a picture of her during last year's Elite Eight victory over Louisville. He formatted the placement of each Rubik's Cubes in an Excel spreadsheet.

"A Rubik's Cube doesn't give you many colors to work with," Dang said. "So you really have to plan out how you want to make the picture pop out with all the contrast."

It didn't take much time for Dang to piece the portrait together after he "warmed up" to his solving process.

"In the very beginning, solving one would take me about a good minute for each one," Dang said. "But then, slowly, when I'm a little more warmed up, maybe 10 to 20 seconds."

Dang said it wasn't easy — or cheap — to get his hands on 720 Rubik's Cubes. He eventually found a place to buy them in bulk, drastically reducing the overall cost. Each one cost less than $1.

The portrait is hefty.

Dang and his roommate brought it to the dental college to showcase to professors and classmates, ensuring he didn't mess anything up.

"It's pretty heavy," Dang said. "I go to the gym, I work out, and I would say it's about 20 to 25 pounds or more."

Dang kept the project quiet over the final two months of the season, unsure whether it would receive the response he sought. It wasn't until Dang referenced the portrait during a casual conversation that he decided to reveal his work.

"I made this when she broke the (scoring) record and I didn't really mention it to anyone, just my roommate," Dang said. "There's one day I was in school, we were talking about the women's basketball tournament and how well Caitlin Clark is doing, hoping she can actually win the title this year. And I was talking to one of the faculty in the clinic and I was showing them this picture and they're like, 'No way.'"

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Portrait connects professional and personal passions

Dang believes Clark has transcended athletic stardom as a "once-in-a-generation talent."

He estimates that he's heard references to Clark's brilliance from hundreds of patients within the College of Dentistry.

Dang views dentistry as an art form, much like Clark does when she's on a basketball court, dissecting defenses and helping lead teammates to a collective goal.

As a dentist, Dang strengthens and rebuilds patient smiles. He's the figurative point guard, handing out dental assists and drilling out cavities.

"To be able to combine another aspect of my life, with Rubik's Cube and art, and portray (Caitlin Clark) through that is fun," Dang said. "That's what I love about it."

Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Portrait of Caitlin Clark created by UI student with 720 Rubik’s Cubes