Australian children's author Andy Griffiths has been honoured with a striking new sculpture at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.

The four-metre-high artwork, titled Andy Andy, was created by artist Ronnie van Hout and presents Griffiths in an unusual and playful form. The sculpture shows the author sitting in a tree while holding a tiny version of himself, which in turn holds another miniature version.

The work explores the idea of Griffiths' continuing connection with childhood imagination and the creative world that has shaped his writing.

Griffiths is one of Australia's best-known children's authors and is widely recognised for his humorous and unconventional books. His long-running creative partnership with illustrator Terry Denton produced the hugely popular Treehouse series, which has been read by generations of Australian children.

The new sculpture is accompanied by another exhibition titled Brainstorm, also created by van Hout. Rather than presenting a traditional portrait, Brainstorm provides an insight into Griffiths' creative influences through objects associated with his writing room.

The exhibition contains about 130 objects, books and pieces of music connected with Griffiths' creative life. Visitors can see some of the things that have influenced the author's distinctive style and approach to storytelling.

Griffiths and van Hout had not met before working on the project, but both share an interest in punk music and absurdist humour. Those influences are reflected in the unconventional design of the sculpture.

Griffiths said the artwork represents the continuing presence of his younger self in his creative work. His writing has often embraced strange situations, humour and imaginative ideas rather than following conventional children's literature.

The exhibition comes at an emotional time for Griffiths following the recent death of Terry Denton, his long-time illustrator and creative collaborator.

Denton died aged 76 after working with Griffiths for almost three decades. Their partnership produced many of Australia's most recognisable children's books, including the Treehouse series.

Griffiths has described Denton as an important creative partner who encouraged him to explore unusual ideas. The new Canberra exhibition therefore provides an opportunity to celebrate Griffiths' career while also reflecting on the creative relationship that helped shape his work.

The National Portrait Gallery will display Andy Andy and Brainstorm until mid-2027.

The sculpture is also notable because it takes a different approach to traditional portraits. Instead of simply reproducing Griffiths' appearance, the artwork attempts to represent his imagination, humour and relationship with childhood creativity.

For visitors, the exhibition offers both a large-scale public artwork and a collection of personal objects connected with one of Australia's most recognisable children's authors.

The display also demonstrates how contemporary portraiture can represent writers and artists through ideas and objects associated with their work, rather than relying solely on conventional likenesses.