Western Bay of Plenty residents have been issued an artistic challenge in the wake of discovering Katikati's town icon has disappeared.

Townsfolk woke on Monday morning, June 26, to find Barry along with his seat, had vanished into thin air, leaving behind a bereft Jack, his doggie companion.

Katikati Open Air Art, which is the steward of Katikati's murals and sculptures, posted the disappearance on their Facebook Page and invited the community's input into what could have possibly happened to Barry via an artwork competition.

The statue, known as Barry, in Katikati. Photo: SunLive.

Locals have suggested Barry had got tired of sitting in the rain and had escaped to the sunny islands; or had got stuck in traffic, while others conjected he'd been stolen and held for ransom.

Katikati Open Air Art reassures the community that they are unfazed about Barry's mystery disappearance and instead urge the community to get creative and create a ‘what's happened to Barry scenario' in any art medium.

It can be a drawing, photo, poem, sculpture etc. Send a photograph of your entry to: info@KatikatiOpenAirArt.co.nz or drop it into The Arts Junction, Katikati by 5pm July 9.

Entries will appear on Katikati Open Air Art's Facebook Page for public voting between July 10-16, with the three entries with the most popular public votes receiving an iconic Barry tee-shirt.