It might resemble a shed, but the Gallery of Modern Art has been heralded as the city's crown jewel representing a newfound sophistication ahead of its fifth birthday this weekend.

But not everyone sings GoMA's praises.

Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art has come under fire for being too child-friendly. Credit:Glenn Hunt

Influential Brisbane art dealer Philip Bacon moves in the country's most discerning cultural circles and has encountered bitter criticism before, including claims the programming is populist and the space is little more than a crèche.

The Australian's Christopher Allen echoed such sentiments in a scathing review of the Easter exhibition, 21st Century, which abounded with screaming kids, bright colours, gimmicks and apparently very little “art”.