In 2006, shortly after graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, a young artist began a relationship that would profoundly shape both his personal and creative life. At that time, he was working at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and navigating a period of personal upheaval, including coming to terms with his sexuality and ending a long-term relationship. During this challenging phase, he encountered Garrett, who was working at a local video store. Their shared interests in art and music quickly sparked a connection.

Garrett, nine years his senior, was described as confident and self-assured, qualities that contrasted with the younger man's difficult journey toward self-acceptance. Their mutual appreciation for artists such as Kate Bush, John Waters, and Cindy Sherman fueled their early conversations and laid the groundwork for their relationship. Despite moments of vulnerability and wild self-expression—such as drunken performances inspired by Tina Turner and Sade—Garrett offered unwavering support, kindness, and encouragement. This acceptance marked a turning point for the younger artist, helping him overcome years of internalized shame.

Their relationship took a theatrical turn during their first Valentine’s Day together when Garrett gifted an ornate box containing a real cow’s heart covered in fake blood. The startling, visceral present was intended as a test to gauge his partner’s capacity to embrace Garrett’s dramatic style and the intensity of their shared experience. Although both are lifelong vegetarians and animal lovers, the gift was a symbolically loaded gesture reflecting Garrett’s artistic themes of corporeality and love, as well as their mutual admiration for John Waters’ camp aesthetic.

Over the following two decades, the couple has collaborated creatively while building a shared life rooted in queer identity and cultural pride. Their work focuses on exploring queer romance and joy—concepts that were largely inaccessible during their formative years. Garrett’s First Nations heritage also plays a significant role in their artistic practice and personal narrative, adding layers of cultural significance to their joint expression.

Describing their partnership as one that embraces both creativity and humor, the couple acknowledges occasional disagreements centered on unconventional matters, such as the suitability of footwear for navigating inflatable sculptures or the best method of applying false eyelashes in windy conditions. Their commitment to crafting a “queer utopia” through their art has culminated in their current exhibition, Bloodlines, which is set to be displayed at Brisbane Powerhouse from October 21 through November 8 as part of the Melt Festival program.