Primary school pupils from nine Northern Tasmanian schools were both the artists and the bosses for ArtStart 2019.

ArtStart has been running for years, but this is the first time the pupils have had total control over the exhibition - which art education officer Lin Farrington said made for quite the unique experience for her.

"They had me racing around and I ran the exhibition the way that they wanted," Ms Farrington laughed.

"There was a lot of, 'we have to put this one over here with that one' and 'no, that one's not speaking to that one'.

"They were quite hard taskmasters, and it was a bit of a role reversal for me to be taking orders from the students."

She said the children made bold and risky choices, which was what any good curator should be trying to do.

"Their decisions were entirely right," she said.

"I think being able to curate the exhibition gave them a sense of authority over their own work, and a sense of confidence."

ArtStart 2019 is themed 'Quaint, quirky and peculiar'.

It features 83 3D, abstract and figurative works, all created by primary school children: from West Launceston Primary, St Leonards Primary, Scotch Oakburn College, Riverside Primary, Invermay Primary, Hagley Farm School, Exeter Primary, East Tamar Primary, and Bridport Primary.

The works are displayed in the gallery cafe, and Ms Farrington said they had already proved popular with visitors.

"The children whose artwork has been selected this year are deservedly proud of their achievements," she said.

"It's been a joy to work with our student curators this year.

"The works selected speak of the depth of feeling that comes from time spent with family and friends, and through tough experiences and hardships.

"Represented are both the fragility and strength of our young people navigating their way through the world, and the talent of our young, emerging artists."

The ArtStart exhibitions are designed to encourage children's participation in the visual arts.