Forged in Trans Magic (2024)

Forged in Trans Magic is a series of quilted wall hangings celebrating transgender masculinity and key milestones from my own transition. Inspired by medieval illuminated manuscripts and the escapism of fantasy, the works draw parallels between magic and the transformative experience of gender transition. Made from repurposed fabrics, the quilts weave together comfort, personal storytelling, and symbols of transition to honour trans lives and imagine hopeful futures.
2026 The Event of a Thread, Grace Cossington Smith Gallery, Wahroonga, NSW
2024 Forged in Trans Magic, Annex at .M Contemporary, Darlinghurst, NSW

Forged in Trans Magic

Forged in Trans Magic celebrates transgender masculinity and milestones from my own gender transition. It features two swords, with their blades inscribed in Roman numerals with two key dates: the day I started testosterone and the day I had top surgery. These swords, inspired by Excalibur from BBC’s tv show Merlin, symbolise resilience and the forging of identity through the challenges of transition. The little dragon at the top is modelled on a childhood figurine that has accompanied me through every home, adding a personal touch of continuity and magic. Made from repurposed textiles, the quilt weaves together storytelling, comfort, and trans joy.
96cm x 116cm
Cotton quilt, fabric paint, wooden rod

Binding Spell

Binding Spell features a spell book casting spells for positive queer trans futures, surrounded by “ingredients” for transitioning: clippers for at-home haircuts, documenting visible changes through Polaroids, and keys on a carabiner. A real chest binder is sewn onto the quilt, while all other fabrics are repurposed from bed sheets and clothing. Vines and chains weave through the work, symbolising constriction, pain, growth, and the eventual freedom of breaking free.
101cm x 118cm
Cotton quilt, fabric paint, chest binder, wooden rod

Vials for Transformation

Vials for Transformation presents testosterone vials as magical potion bottles, reflecting the transformative power of medical transition. Syringes filled with testosterone echo the swords in Forged in Trans Magic, with tiny band-aid patches used after injections in the four corners. The vials are exact representations of the Reandron 1000 vials I used over five years on testosterone. The first vial is missing: my Endocrinologist administered my first dose and discarded it before I could ask to keep it. This quilt is a time capsule of my transition, somewhere between a magical artefact and a personal archive.
141cm x 93cm
Cotton quilt, fabric paint, wooden rod

Forged in Trans Magic’s Sibling Quilts (2024)

These smaller wall hangings were created from the offcuts of the three larger quilts in the Forged in Trans Magic series. They were made alongside the larger works; sharing the same materials, processes, and origins.