Art collecting is child's play!

RUTH MILLINGTON explores a family-friendly gallery where the pieces are on sale from just £20

- Ruth Millington is a Birmingham-based art historian and writer

GREEN dinosaurs have walked into Birmingham, framed on the wall of Stryx Gallery's innovative exhibition, 'Inside the Playroom! Recently opened, it invites children and their families to become art collectors.

“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 12 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.