DOLLS representing the varied personalities of Oxford art students have gone on display in a museum.

Foundation art students from Oxford Brookes University were challenged to create dolls inspired both by themselves and the representations of the human form on display at the Pitt Rivers Museum, in South Parks Road.

University course leader and head of arts Alison Honour said: “The Pitt Rivers is an amazing resource for us, because it’s a very special collection of ethnographic material.

“There are some amazing examples of dolls and effigies of the human form from all cultures and countries, so we used that as a starting point.

“The idea was that it would be really interesting to look at contemporary dolls as well and we devised a project about identity and images of self.”

The students interviewed each other to gain inspiration, then created their own dolls to reflect different aspects of their personalities.

The students used everything from china, drink cans, resin, feathers and broken egg shells in their pieces.

A number of their creations have now gone on display at the museum – giving some of the students their first opportunity to exhibit work in a public space.

Ms Honour said: “The outcomes are really exciting, with really diverse materials.

“Some are slightly disturbing, some are humorous, and some cause you to think.”

Patrick Atkins, 18, from Rose Hill, created a doll using bits and pieces from his old home in an attempt to represent his “scruffy” appearance, which has been noted by fellow students.

He said: “I have really enjoyed this project and it’s a really nice opportunity and very flattering that they have taken our work.

“I was a bit worried people might think mine was a bit too edgy, but I think when you read the explanation, you can see where I’m coming from.”

Mr Atkins said he liked all the other pieces of work and added that he found one by fellow student James Lomax, which included a prosthetic cast of his own head as a baby, particularly striking.

Fine art course tutor Dr Myfanwy Johns added: “The students have all worked extremely hard and with great enthusiasm, and have produced a collection of inspiring and remarkable sculptures.”

The students’ work is on display at the museum until Sunday, March 21, and is open from noon to 4.30pm on Mondays and 10am to 4.30pm Tuesday to Sunday.