PODCAST: Jackson Harvey & Alex Towler on Building Big with LEGO®, Creative Collaboration, and Their Exhibition in Sydney

Alex has always felt torn between the worlds of art and science. Beginning his career as an environmental engineer he worked predominantly with natural waterways and urban stormwater drainage.He balanced the logical and technical aspects of engineering with his creative passions by forming multiple punk bands with old school friends and making musical noise at local Perth music venues.After finding success on Channel 9’s LEGO® Masters with his long-time friend Jackson Harvey, the duo developed unique sculptural displays that combine LEGO® with human artifacts. The creative concept grew into the exhibition ‘RELICS: A New World Rises’ which has been touring Australia and New Zealand since 2023.

Jackson Harvey is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Fremantle, Western Australia. Jackson’s passion in art was encouraged from a young age, with drawing, painting and constructing grand LEGO structures his usual childhood pastimes.As an adult, he discovered a passion for creating large scale mural works and their ability to transform spaces. A self-taught aerosol artist, Jackson combines elements from a variety of experiential influences, from his studies in architecture and painting, his decade-long career in tattooing and contemporary community art projects. His work is characterized by bright, carefully selected colour palettes and soft flowing curves contrasted with bold pixilated textures.Since winning Australian television series LEGO Masters in 2020 with his childhood friend Alex Towler, he has added LEGO building into his art practice. Their first LEGO exhibition together, titled RELICS: Bricks of a New World, was the highest-attended exhibition ever presented. Their following touring exhibition RELICS: A New World Rises has since shattered museum attendance records, becoming the highest-attended ticketed exhibition in the 168-year history of the South Australian Museum, and drew over 112,000 visitors during its international debut at the Auckland Museum.

Cristy Burne grew up climbing trees, jumping drains, chasing cows and inventing stories. She has a passion for learning through doing and loves to inspire creativity, daring and resilience in her readers. Cristy is a children’s author and science writer with degrees in biotechnology and science communication. She has also worked as a science circus performer, garbage analyst, Santa’s pixie, and atom-smashing reporter.