A Lego banana stolen from Townsville's biennial Strand Ephemera art exhibition has been recovered by forensic police.

The piece was one of 12 Lego bananas made by artist Ryan "The Brickman" McNaught for the 2015 Strand Ephemera outdoor exhibition.

It was stolen in August on the opening weekend of the exhibition, along with Lego blue-tongue lizard, created by Mr McNaught, and a praying mantis sculpture, by artist Hugh Martin.

The blue-tongue lizard sculpture was handed into police a few days after it went missing.

Forensic police officers were at an Alice River location yesterday when one of the officers recognised the banana.

In a statement, police said it was fortunate the officer was a "keen Lego fan" or the work may not have been recovered.

Police are happy with their find. ( supplied: Queensland Police Service )

"If it was not for his passion for Lego and keen detective work, the art piece would have gone undetected."

Mr McNaught says social media alerted him to the recovery of the banana before police contacted him.

"I don't know who the policeman is but he deserves a big pat on the back ... it is not often you find people who can remember little details," Mr McNaught said.

When is a Lego banana not a Lego banana?

Mr McNaught is one of only 13 Lego Certified Professionals in the world. He recently had an exhibition in Brisbane featuring more than 60 models, made up of five million Lego bricks.

The craftsman said he liked to surprise with his artworks, but believed art appreciation was subjective, particularly when the medium was unusual, like Lego bricks.

"Some people really dig it and understand it and because I like to push the boundaries of it and put it places where people don't expect it, most people are very appreciative," he said.

Ryan McNaught installing the blue tongue lizard artwork for Strand Ephemera 2015. The lizard was also stolen on the opening weekend but was recovered soon after. ( Supplied: Townsville City Council )

"The best comment I can get is usually 'is that Lego?' because most people can't believe it can be made from Lego bricks. That's the biggest compliment I can get."

Mr McNaught said he rarely disassembles his work to re-use the bricks, and the bananas that featured in Strand Ephemera were recently on display in Brisbane.

"Minus the one which they found in Townsville, so yeah they travel around a little bit," he said.

"Once they are together they stay together, unless someone nicks one, of course."