Children's author Andy Griffiths immortalised with sculpture at National Portrait Gallery
Andy Griffiths has been given a striking new portrait at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. The 4‑metre‑high, 3D‑printed sculpture, created by Ronnie van Hout and titled Andy Andy, captures the author’s ‘inner kid’ as it continues to run riot even as he navigates adulthood.
The collaboration springs from a shared love of punk music and absurdist humour, a sensibility that both men bring to their work. The piece leans into that chaotic energy, prompting viewers to consider what forces shape a person’s creative identity.
Alongside Andy Andy is a companion installation called Brainstorm, which offers a glimpse into the objects, records and books that fuel Griffiths’s imagination. It invites both children and adults to explore an alternative world of sound and art.
The unveiling arrives just days after the passing of Terry Denton, the illustrator who partnered with Griffiths for three decades. Their partnership, described as an exchange of punk‑spirit and chaotic creativity, adds a bittersweet resonance to the exhibition, which will remain on view until mid‑2027.