The Secret Lives of a Painting: A Journey with the Incognito Art Show
Virtue, 2024.
There is something undeniably poetic about creating art that will leave your hands, your world, and your identity behind—set adrift into the homes and hearts of strangers. When I had the opportunity to contribute three original artworks to the Incognito Art Show in Sydney, I knew I was stepping into something special.
The Incognito Art Show isn’t just an exhibition; it’s a movement. As Australia’s biggest and most inclusive art show, its mission is as meaningful as it is brilliant. Each piece—whether painted by an emerging artist or a renowned name—is priced at $100. The twist? The artist remains anonymous until the piece is purchased, allowing buyers to choose purely from the heart, free from the influence of reputation or prestige. The funds raised go towards supporting artists with disabilities, further cementing the show’s commitment to art for all.
I poured my soul into three small A5 canvases, each infused with the dreamy, romantic nostalgia that defines my style. I painted from memory and imagination, weaving together motifs from childhood lullabies, whispered nursery rhymes, and the hazy, golden warmth of old films. Each brushstroke told a story—a fleeting moment from a whimsical love story that may have never existed but felt achingly real.
Leisure, 2024
When the show finally opened, my paintings stood among thousands of others, waiting to find their forever homes. And then, as quickly as they had arrived, they were gone. All three of my pieces were sold to buyers whose identities I will never know, their new homes forever a mystery. I often wonder where they are now—perhaps nestled in a cozy apartment, hung in a sun-drenched reading nook, or cherished on a gallery wall of someone who saw a piece of their own dreams reflected in mine.
The anonymity of it all is strangely beautiful. Unlike traditional art sales, where an artist and buyer might share a moment of exchange, this was something more ephemeral, more intimate in its secrecy. I love the idea that somewhere, a stranger connected so deeply with my work that they chose to take it home. That, in itself, is the purest form of artistic connection.
Being part of the Incognito Art Show reminded me why I create—to evoke emotion, to tell stories, to send fragments of myself into the world with no expectation of return. And though I may never know who holds my paintings now, I take comfort in knowing that they are loved, wherever they may be.
Curiosity, 2024