Green dinosaurs have disembarked in Birmingham, framed on the wall of Stryx Gallery’s innovative new exhibition, ‘Inside the Playroom.’ It’s a fun and colourful selling show, filled with art for children’s rooms…

“Everyone needs more dinosaur energy in their life,” says Bag Lord, who collaborated with his daughter to create a series of vividly painted dinosaurs, from a t-rex to a triceratops, which appear to roar, stomp and smile their way through this fun and uplifting show.

He’s one of twelve local artists who have filled with the space with colourful works, which stretch beyond the gallery’s walls. Wriggling their way onto the floor are knitted soft sculptures in the shape of baby worms by Lexi Strauss. While most galleries tell viewers ‘Do not touch’, these collectable pieces have been designed for creative play and direct engagement with their owners.

Continuing this theme of curious creatures, Anisa Mosaiebiniya has painted illustrative portraits of popular animals – an alligator with round-rimmed glasses, a yawning big cat, a bookish fox – in a charming series, which could have been lifted straight from a book. She says:

“We often view animals through narrow, symbolic lenses: the lion as brave, the owl as wise, the cheetah as fast. But just like people, animals are complex and full of surprises. Through these emotionally rich portrayals, I aim to break down stereotypes and invite children to embrace the full range of their own feelings.”

On an opposite wall, deer and rabbits stalk through the dreamlike, surrealist world of Rafal Zar, whose flatly painted compositions are filled with intriguing, geometric shapes. His symbolic pictures seem to encourage bedtime stories; anything seems possible when you fall down his rabbit hole.

Another highlight is the pretty series of pastel-coloured landscapes by Boglárka Tóth. Across the triptych, candy floss-coloured clouds meet yellow suns and green waves, or are they mountains? Abstracted and shimmering, these pictures radiate pure joy, and the artist has commented on her hope that they will be “an inspiration for children to try out different colours in their own art”.

Curated to look like a bright playroom, the exhibition redefines what a commercial gallery looks like. Gone are the white walls; instead, this is an immersive world of imagination, celebrating the talents of local artists whose affordable, child-friendly illustrations, paintings, collages and soft sculptures are on sale.

As Directors Anna Katarzyna Domejko and Karolina Korupczynska have said:

“Our goal has been to create a fun and imaginative exhibition that not only reflects the amazing creativity in the Stryx community but also encourages families to start their own art collections.

Young people pay great attention to their surroundings, so we hope that it’s through their own children’s eyes that adults will become interested in art and collecting it. We hope to break down barriers for adults who are intimated by galleries and wouldn’t usually collect art”.

With prices starting at just £20, families of all income brackets will be able to buy at this exhibition. The works for sale have all been made by professional artists, meaning this is also a potential investment opportunity for emerging collectors. For the price of a shop-bought poster, families can take home an original piece of art. It’s money well spent, if you ask me.

Catering for younger audiences, this exhibition has been devised in synergy with Stryx Gallery’s wider programme, including the Mothership residency, which saw 12 artist-mothers and their children create new work side-by-side in the gallery’s purpose-built studio space.

The gallery also works with artists to deliver creative ‘Stay and Play’ workshops for children, proving that all ages belong in the gallery. Now, Stryx is inviting its youngest audience members to better understand the value of art.

Among the works on show are a series of small paintings by artist and Stryx Director Korupczynska who has framed small everyday objects gathered from her coffee table: toys, crumbs, hair bobbles. As she says, they represent half-forgotten moments caught in between chaos and care”, and have been lovingly painted during those times. They symbolise the link between children and creativity, which is on full display here.

Home to playful animals, swirling patterns, fruit photography and collages of cats, ‘Inside the Playroom’ has been designed for children. But I challenge any viewer not to smile at this immersive wonderland which is waiting in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. Even the dinosaurs will make you feel welcome.

Free to visit, the exhibition will run until the end of summer 2025 at Stryx Gallery, 90 Vyse Street, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, B18 6JZ. Opening hours: Mon to Sat, 9-3pm