A kidney stone made Laura realise Lech was special. Then she won the Archibald

A medical emergency in 2023, only months after they got together, helped foster the budding romance between 2024 Archibald Prize-winning artist Laura Jones, 42, and lauded young writer Lech Blaine, 33.

Laura Jones and Lech Blaine. “He was born to write and interpret the world,” says Jones.Credit: Tim Bauer

Laura: I’d see Lech at art shows and through mutual friends. I’d read some of his articles and thought, “He can really put a sentence together.” He always had a curious, serious expression on his face and I thought, “He looks so interesting and handsome. I’d like to know more about him.”

We got together after a gathering at my studio in June 2023. Our first proper date was at a wine bar in [Sydney’s] Coogee. We were both nervous, but so excited that soon we were having a deep conversation about family, the creative process, our lives and interests. Then it was on. Lech is the most emotionally intelligent person I’ve ever met. It might take me half an hour to explain my feelings; he can do it in about 20 seconds. He can distil things, give them structure; it’s a miracle how he has pulled his complex family story together in [his new book] Australian Gospel. He was born to write and interpret the world.

We’d been dating for a few months when I developed a kidney stone. He stayed with me at the hospital for hours, even though I told him he didn’t have to. It was early days and I didn’t know where we were headed. Then the doctor showed us the scans and I was so embarrassed that he could see my insides: my bowel, my bladder. It was so intimate, more so even than sex. He was constantly by my side as I recovered from surgery and I thought, “Wow, he’s really committed.”

‘Lech wrote my acceptance speech in the taxi, my tampons in his pocket!’

Laura Jones

We support each other in our work. It’s beautiful to watch him on stage at writers’ festivals; he’s so insightful and really moves people. You can hear a pin drop. Then, at a recent exhibition of mine, Lech invented some of the painting titles and wrote the copy for the show. It’s great to have someone from outside the art world do that; it’s less “art-speaky” and he leaves more for the viewer to interpret. We understand each other’s work – even though I can’t write and he can’t paint. We get the creative process.

When I got the call to tell me I’d won the [2024] Archibald [for her painting of Tim Winton], I was in bed with period pain. Lech handed me the phone and I accidentally hung up. When they called back, we both squealed; we only had a couple of hours to get to the gallery for the announcement. Lech wrote my acceptance speech in the taxi, my tampons in his pocket!

Jones and Blaine in front of her portrait of Tim Winton, which won the Art Gallery of NSW’s Archibald Prize last year.Credit: Courtesy of Lech Blaine

Lech is very calming. He lives life at a slow, consistent pace; I’m hyperactive. We’re renovating our home and it’s been challenging. I get stressed, but Lech just says, “Some things you can’t fix overnight. It’ll work out.”

When he’s feeling depressed, I know he needs reading time alone and I give him a wide berth. I also enjoy being alone in my studio. You need that to be creative. I love how he listens patiently, interprets emotions and sees the complexity in people, including me. He’s definitely the one for me, though he has a radical way of cleaning his teeth that drives me nuts – toothpaste everywhere!

Lech: After I moved to Sydney from Queensland in 2020, I met Laura a few times at exhibitions and events. We’d always have good conversations and I thought she was lovely. I was nervous when we went on our first date because I’d never been in a long-term relationship. My 20s were hectic [Lech was involved in a fatal car crash at 17, lost his dad at 19 and his mum at 26] and I’d taken a break from dating apps. On that first date, we talked about creativity; the stuff about writing was fresh for her and the art-world stuff ­­­was fresh for me. It was stimulating.

The kidney stone was a strange bonding experience: I just wanted to be there for her. I think it made her feel more secure in our attachment because she saw my calm side. It ended up being a nice thing for us – even though she had to endure a lot of pain.

‘On a short walk, she might stop three or four times to look at a flower or a dog … She’s taught me to relax.’

Lech Blaine

Laura is emotionally expressive and that has been amazing for me because I can be shut off. I believed that emotions were things you worked through on your own, but we talk a lot about my past. I’ve never felt so emotionally or physically comfortable with someone.

Jones and Blaine enjoying some downtime on New Zealand’s Waiheke Island last year.Credit: Courtesy of Lech Blaine

We’re both immersed in each other’s work worlds. There’s no envy or competitiveness: we just want the best for each other. Laura has a high tolerance for some of my quirks. She might be frustrated by my inability to clock off, but she tolerates it because she has belief in what I’m trying to do. At the same time, she reminds me there’s more to life than work.

When she won the Archibald, I was incredibly proud because I knew it had been a tough journey for her as a woman in the art world. It wasn’t inevitable; it took resilience and tenacity. She hasn’t changed since winning; she’s still humble and lots of fun.

Laura has a special emotional presence: she can’t shield her emotions, happy or sad. She also pays attention. On a short walk, she might stop three or four times to look at a flower or a dog. It’s been hard for her to get me to slow down because I never had time in my 20s. She’s taught me to relax.

I’ve learnt that, in relationships, you’re not always at your best, but you don’t need to freak out about that. I suffer from depression; Laura has anxiety. I worry that my work isn’t good enough; she gets anxious about doing public events. We understand each other’s insecurities and are able to reassure each other. Laura knows when I’m out of juice and need solitude. It’s my coping mechanism and she’s never judged me for that.

It’s great to imagine a future together. We both knew from early on that this would be long-term and what she has added to my life is enormous. She’s taught me the value of love, not in an abstract way, but in a pragmatic and everyday way. I’ve learnt to embrace imperfection; once you do that, you can see how to create a life together.

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