MELBOURNE.- In his first exhibition for children, British artist Julian Opie has collaborated with the National Gallery of Victoria to create Julian Opie: Studio for Kids, a new interactive art studio for children and families.

Presented alongside a major survey of Opie’s work, Julian Opie, also on display at NGV, the NGV Kids exhibition focuses on Opie’s interests in drawing and portraiture through digital and hands-on activities.

In a new multimedia interactive installation, Julian Opie + Me, young visitors will create self-portraits using line and colour, offering them a chance to see their own likeness rendered in Opie’s style. These creations can then be shared via email and on social media.

Young visitors can create their own abstract portraits using coloured felt pieces, which depict abstract faces, facial features and hair styles.

Kate Ryan, The Truby and Florence Williams Curator of Children’s Programs, NGV, said, ‘These large-scale participatory exhibitions for children and families have helped attract more than 1.5 million children to the Gallery over the past five years. Julian Opie: Studio for Kids is an engaging and inspiring space which includes displays of the artist’s portraits and custom designed interactives. We hope all young visitors to Studio for Kids take the opportunity to be creative as they draw portraits of themselves and members of their family in the style of the artist.’

In addition to the NGV Kids collaboration, more than 60 of Opie’s instantly recognisable works – renowned for their bold style – also are on display throughout the Julian Opie exhibition. Responding directly to the architecture of NGV International in his first major Australian exhibition, Julian Opie created the largest ever work presented in Federation Court: a city of skyscrapers that stretch all the way up to the glass ceiling – standing 13 metres high at its tallest point.

Julian Opie: Studio for Kids id on display from 9 November 2018 – 17 February 2019 at NGV International. This exhibition is free.