The lucky dip art fair where you can pick up an Archibald-winning artist for $100

There are three golden rules of the Australian Incognito Art Show, the lucky dip art fair that raises funds for artists with disabilities by selling affordable artworks signed by some of the nation’s most celebrated artists.

It’s first in, best dressed, buyers are limited to three artworks each, and each of the works is priced at $100, co-founder David Liston says.

Incognito founders Ed Liston (left) and David Liston (right) with artists Catherine McGuiness, Billy Bain and Eliza Gosse who have contributed art to the Incognito Art Show at the Garden Gallery in the Botanic Gardens of Sydney.Credit: Janie Barrett

“The twist is, you don’t know who you’re buying until you’ve bought it. Then and only then is the artist’s name revealed,” he says. “The prominent artists who take part go one of two ways in terms of what they create; either very recognisable, or completely different to what they usually do.

“There’s not as much pressure on them to stick to their style, so sometimes they use a medium, or depict a subject they’re not known for. Funnily enough, the really informed buyers often still pick these pieces.”

The chance selections, however, don’t seem to detract buyers. Lines were long last year when doors opened on Incognito and the anonymous postcard-sized pieces of art went up for sale.

The first-through the door art lover picked out a Ben Quilty, Vincent Namatjira and an Eliza Gosse.

“She waited in line for 24 hours, but she got what she wanted,” Liston said. “There are other nice stories, like an eight-year-old girl a few years ago that bought a lovely picture of an octopus, that turned out to be a Luke Sciberras.”

It was five years ago that Liston brought the idea for the art show back from Ireland where Incognito has become that country’s largest online art sale and, in its nine years, has sold works by Bono, Tracy Emin and Bob Geldof.

This year, Incognito is putting on its biggest Australian show yet with 22,000 art works for sale, three of them by Archibald Prize winners, including the 2025 winner, Brisbane-based painter and academic, Julie Fragar.

Liston’s fellow founder Laura Jones won in 2024 with a portrait of author Tim Winton. Her work for the art show is a little out of the ordinary, inspired by her recent collaboration with fashion designers, Romance Was Born.

Eighteen finalists in this year’s Archibald have also contributed works, including Billy Bain, Mathew Calandra, Peter Chen, Clara Adolphs, Yolande Gray, Daniel Kim, Col Mac, Catherine McGuiness, Reg Mombassa, Meagan Pelham and Vipoo Srivilasa.

In four years $415,000 has been raised for charity; this year’s proceeds to be shared between Studio A and Wagga Wagga’s The Art Factory.

Liston said artists get involved for different reasons but common to all is a desire to support their fellow artists.

“The amateur and emerging artists get the benefit of the promotion we can put behind their work,” he said

“We survey our artists, and 53 per cent see commercial benefit off the back of taking part. That can be commissions, or sales from their website, and more.

“The professional artists get a bit of a kick out of people who wouldn’t traditionally have the means to buy their work being able to.”

In-person sale days open on Saturday, May 31, from 8am, and Sunday, June 1, from 10am to 4pm at the Royal Botanic Gardens’ Gallery. Online sales open late on June 1. Artwork can be viewed here.

Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.