Jason Jowett Alex Greenwich

Jason Jowett has long admired Alex Greenwich, the independent member for Sydney in the NSW Parliament, especially his tireless work as the co-chair of the ‘yes’ campaign that delivered marriage equality in Australia in 2017.

‘It was such a tough time for the queer community, because so much hatred was directed at us, but Alex remained a tower of strength,’ says Jowett, a first-time Archibald finalist.

Invited to Jowett’s first solo exhibition, the MP appeared at the opening with his husband Victor Hoeld. It is here that Jowett and Greenwich were first introduced.

Jowett creates multimedia work using overlapping pieces of fabric, which he paints and sews together. ‘Alex and Victor loved my fabric style, and it was agreed then and there that I would create a portrait of Alex for the Archibald,’ says Jowett.

The sitting took place at Greenwich’s home. ‘My exhibition was about dealing with depression, so I asked if he had been through anything similar,’ Jowett explains. ‘I discovered that the stress of the marriage equality campaign had taken its toll on him.

‘In this portrait, I wanted to show a more vulnerable side of Alex, compared to the strength and positivity you see in his campaign photos.’