The British contemporary artist Julian Opie is the subject of the solo exhibition titled Julian Opie: Studio for Kids, on view through April 10, 2023, at the National Gallery of Victoria (hereafter NGV), Melbourne, Australia. This interactive exhibition invites children and families to create their own digital self-portraits in the British artist’s signature style.

Julian Opie’s celebrated minimalist approach to painting, sculpture, and film has influenced the wider field of art and pop culture since he began his career in the early 1980s. Referencing pop art and modernist techniques, Opie’s distinctive formal language is instantly recognizable. 
Inspired by the artist’s London studio where the artist works surrounded by his personal art collection, visitors to Julian Opie: Studio for Kids can view a display of Opie’s works from the NGV Collection including Ali (2009), Elena rolling her eyes (2015), and Imogen smiling (2015). The multimedia studio begins with a tutorial on how to draw in Opie’s unique style using only line and color to create a digital portrait, which can then be shared with family and friends.

Julian Opie: Studio for Kids was originally developed by the artist in collaboration with the NGV during his major exhibition Julian Opie in 2018. The exhibition welcomes audiences to experience and foster creativity through Opie’s unique style, which reflects his artistic preoccupation with the idea of representation and the means by which images are perceived and understood.