Want to buy an Archibald winner’s work for $100? This art show is your chance
By Helen Pitt
Until recently, the founders of the Incognito Art Show, Laura Jones, David Liston and Ed Liston, remained relatively incognito – like the postcard-sized artworks they collect from some of the nation’s most celebrated artists.
In 2021, they decided to sell anonymous A5-sized pieces of art from the nation’s best-known artists, based on an idea David Liston brought back from living in Dublin. The Incognito Art Show was born, but no one knew if the fundraiser for artists with disabilities would succeed. Last year it raised $100,000.
Earlier this year, the trio – which includes identical twin brothers from Glen Innes – featured in a portrait by Daniel Kim, an artist with intellectual disabilities from Studio A, which receives some of the proceeds from Incognito’s sales. The giant work was chosen as an Archibald finalist in May, making them instantly recognisable.
The founders of the Incognito Art Show, Ed and David Liston, and 2024 Archibald Prize winner Laura Jones.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos
Then last month, Jones became a household name and face when she won this year’s $100,000 Archibald Prize with a portrait of author Tim Winton.
“Winning the Archibald is a wild ride – it’s huge exposure and, as for the Incognito Art Show, hopefully it leads more people inside the door on sale day this weekend,” said Jones.
“In our first year we had 1800 works – in this, our fourth year, we have 17,900,” said Bondi-based David Liston, who studied art history, and runs a media and marketing consultancy. Artworks from 23 of this year’s Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes finalists, as well as works by previous Archibald winners Vincent Namatjira, Julia Gutman, Blak Douglas and Ben Quilty are up for grabs.
Incognito Art Show founders Ed and David Liston and Laura Jones in Daniel Kim’s Archibald 2024 finalist painting.
Buyers register for $100 and choose the art they want while creators remain unidentified. It’s the luck of the draw – some end up with a masterpiece from a maestro, others get something painted by a primary school-aged kid.
“The show has become so popular that we can exhibit only 20 per cent of the total number of paintings at once,” said Paddington-based Ed Liston, who works in e-commerce. “We are on the hunt for a bigger space next year.”
Funds this year will be split between Studio A and We Are Studios in Blacktown.
“I’m thrilled to grow this idea in western Sydney because it is where I am from,” said Jones, who recently moved back to Kurrajong where she grew up.
“To see the impact Incognito is having on inclusivity in the art world and the joyfulness these artists bring is inspiring.”
The art fair, expected to welcome thousands this weekend, coincides with news that work from Studio A artists Meagan Pelham and Emily Crockford, respectively two and four-time Archibald finalists, will feature in an exclusive range of Sydney Opera House products available instore and online from next Monday.
“A lot of people say we’ve helped build Studio A’s reputation, but we think it’s equal parts they’ve helped build our reputation too,” said David Liston.
Incognito Art Show opens at 8am on Saturday and continues until Sunday 5pm at 410 Oxford Street.
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