As Brickvention celebrates its 20th anniversary, we’re taking a moment to shine a spotlight on the people who make the event what it is — the exhibitors, volunteers, and community members who return year after year. One of those people is Scott Esposito, a Brisbane-based AFOL well known for his large-scale, highly detailed modern military LEGO® displays and his long-standing involvement with the Australian LEGO community through Brisbane LEGO User Group, BrisBricks.
We caught up with Scott to talk about his first Brickvention, the friendships he’s made along the way, and what keeps him coming back.
When was your first Brickvention, and what do you remember most about it?
Scott: My first Brickvention was 2015. I was a Convention Day attendee, and my first memory was walking in and saying “wow” — at how impressive the venue is and the number of displays in it.
For many AFOLs, the first step through the doors of Brickvention is a moment they never forget.
Scott: I knew no one in Melbourne, and two local AFOLs took me under their wing and showed me around on Convention Day. The Brickman, Ryan McNaught spotted and remembered me from LEGO Movie promotional work I’d done in Brisbane the previous year and took me and others out to dinner on Lygon Street.
That chance recognition would end up changing Scott’s Brickvention experience completely.
Scott: I ended up volunteering with his crew building the two mosaics he was running as interactive builds. The organisers were short staffed and asked if anyone would like to volunteer over the weekend, which I did – partly to meet people and partly to better understand the event.
What made you want to come to Brickvention in the first place?
Scott: I’d heard it was the best show in Australia at the time, with exhibitors from all over Australia and New Zealand attending. I wanted to check it out as I was new to the AFOL scene — I’d only joined my local LUG, BrisBricks, in July 2014.
Back then, Brickvention already had a reputation that travelled interstate.
What’s your favourite Brickvention memory?
Scott: So many to count and remember. Last year’s convention dinner at the Melbourne Aquarium is probably my most recent highlight.
Sometimes the highlights aren’t about the builds, they’re about the shared experiences.
What keeps you coming back each year?
Scott: Catching up with friends from all over the country. I’ve become great friends with a couple of local guys who have similar interests, so it’s a great opportunity to actually see them in person instead of just talking to them in our chat group. I always get inspired and amazed by some of the builds on show too.
Brickvention isn’t just an event, it’s a reunion.
What was your first MOC at Brickvention, and how did people react to it?
Scott: I can’t MOC to save myself, but I can mod. I’ve displayed various modern military vehicles in a diorama setting since 2019. That year I had a V-22 Osprey and supporting vehicles on display, and people were amazed by it – military LEGO builds are quite rare in a public setting. I met two other guys that weekend who had similar displays, and we’ve been great friends since.
Scott is quick to downplay his own skills, but his displays say otherwise.
What does the Brickvention community mean to you?
Scott: A great bunch of people who don’t care about your background or what you do for a living. We’re all there for the love of the brick and the social aspects the event brings.
This answer is one we hear again and again, and for good reason.
Have you made lasting friendships or connections through Brickvention?
Scott: Yes, very much so. Brickvention allowed me to network and make friends from all over Australia and has led me to exhibit at shows all over the east coast, including Brickbuilt Sydney and Canberra Brick Show, which I now attend every year. Brickvention has provided opportunities for me to travel around Australia and display my LEGO builds in the process.
For many exhibitors, Brickvention is the gateway to the wider AFOL world.
What’s something most people don’t see or realise about what goes on behind the scenes?
Scott: How much work is required just to open the doors. I’ve volunteered for multiple years (including last year, along with a last-minute opportunity to display as I was already flying down from Brisbane), and I’ve also run shows for BrisBricks. I’m always impressed by the level of professionalism behind the event.
Visitors see the finished spectacle but not the effort that makes it possible.
What does 20 years of Brickvention mean to you personally?
Scott: It means 20 years of connecting and inspiring AFOLs from around the country and the world. This event is the highlight of my year.
Two decades of bricks and even more connections.
If you could describe Brickvention in three words, what would they be?
Scott: Community. Networking. Amazing.
From volunteering behind the scenes to exhibiting standout displays on the show floor, Scott’s Brickvention journey reflects the depth of connection this event creates. His story is a reminder that Brickvention isn’t just where builds are shown — it’s where friendships form, skills grow, and AFOLs find their place within the community.
We’re looking forward to welcoming Scott back to the Brickvention 2026 and seeing what he brings next.
Want to follow Scott’s creative journey? Find him on Instagram at @forest_lake_afol
Want to meet him in person? Join us at Brickvention 2026 at the Royal Exhibition Building, 17–18 January. Tickets via Humanitix.