A lifesize papier mache bull, a 20ft-high puppet and a robot made of car parts are among nearly 1,000 pieces of children's art currently running riot at an Oxford gallery.

The MYexhibition at Modern Art Oxford, which features autobiographical work from children aged three to 19, is the culmination of the fourth Oxfordshire Art Project.

Almost 200 of the county's 350 schools worked with professional artists and visited local landmarks to create pieces in a variety of media.

Open to the public from today, the Pembroke Street gallery's five display rooms and cafe will be filled with an explosion of colour — the fruits of the year-long programme.

Project co-ordinator Bryony McCombe said: "It looks brilliant, I'm so pleased with how it has turned out. The space has just really worked for us.

"There are some huge pieces of work in the show. We have got portrait walls with the work plastered together and in other spaces there's a beach hut, a palace you can walk through and a forest of trees.

"There's also a 20ft carnival-style puppet and a huge robot made from car parts that I think looks like a giant headmaster watching over the children as they enter the gallery.

"I think it's a unique exhibition and a unique opportunity for children to have their work professionally displayed in a proper gallery."

As well as working with local artists, some of the participating schools contacted their partner institutions in places such as Uganda, Malta and the United States.

Artist Michael Condron, who helped four Oxfordshire schools draw inspiration from Blenheim Palace, even went out to work with a school in Istanbul, from which eight pupils and three teachers will visit the exhibition during its two-week run.

At Cheney School, in Headington, Ugandan artist David Odwar came over to help students produce traditionally-dressed clay figures for the exhibition.

Ms McCombe said the variety and quality of all the work would surprise those who visited the gallery.

She said: "I doubt people will expect what they will see here.

"They expect children's art to be a certain way, but it has never really been exhibited like this and the standard is incredibly high.

"I think they will be quite shocked at how amazing it is.”

Arthur Penn, Oxfordshire County Council's art adviser to schools, said: "What makes these projects so extraordinary is partly the sheer scale of them and partly the international dimension.

"I think the public coming to view the exhibition will be overwhelmed by the verve and vibrancy and raw energy of the work.

"We are hugely grateful to Modern Art Oxford for hosting the exhibition.

"It is so exciting and inspirational for young people to see their work properly curated in an internationally renowned venue."

The exhibition runs until Monday, September 29.