Love and companionship take many forms. There is romantic love, but also the deep bonds we share with family, friends, and pets - each offering its own kind of care, trust, and support. The people we love often shape how we move through the world, giving guidance, perspective, and comfort through whatever life brings. For you, what does it mean to love and be loved?

Wendy Sharpe 'Lovers with Globe'

For centuries, romantic love has captivated artists, writers, musicians, and filmmakers. From the aching devotion of The Notebook to the yearning tenderness of Lover, You Should've Come Over by Jeff Buckley, love has long been portrayed as both exhilarating and heartbreaking. In art too, romance appears as an all-encompassing, transformative force - intimate, poetic, and deeply human. This quieter, steadfast love is reflected in works such as Laura Castell's 'Images of Love 1' and Judy Cassab's 'Entwined.'

Laura Castell 'Images of Love 1'

Judy Cassab 'Entwined'

Yet beyond romance lies another kind of enduring affection: friendship, family, and platonic love. Foundational in shaping who we are, friends and family tend to see the best and worst of us, choosing to remain our confidants, sounding boards, and greatest supporters. These relationships are often nurtured in simple, everyday moments like gathering to share a meal, a conversation, or a cup of tea. These moments of togetherness - simple yet deeply meaningful - create space for intimacy, reflection, and joy. 

Michael Leunig '...life just fings through your slippers'

There is also the gentle companionship of pets, offering presence and comfort without words. Even a silent shared moment or a one-way conversation with a pet can bring a sense of grounding. 

Garry Shead 'Taurus'

Mirka Mora 'Bird and Girl'

Arch Cuthbertson 'Boy and his horse'

Across all its forms, love remains one of art’s most enduring subjects - a reflection of our desire to connect, care, and be understood. Love is not only about grand gestures, but also the small, quiet acts of connection and companionship that remind us that we are not alone.

Charles Blackman 'The Painters Studio'

Curated by Belle Moss, an emerging curator currently completing her graduate studies at the University of Melbourne.