Artists & Celebrities Join Incognito Art Sale for Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation

An ensemble of artists came together to launch the incognito art sale in aid of the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation.

Among those who attended at the incognito Gallery in Dublin 2 were writer and broadcaster Maia Dunphy, fashion designers and artists Helen Steele, Jill & Gill and Caroline Duffy, and artists Leah Hewson, Holger Baehr, Conor O’Connell and Maser.

The talented bunch join other high-profile names taking part in incognito, including singer-songwriter Róisín Murphy, creative director and professional dancer Arthur Gourounlian, TV cook Donal Skehan, fashion designers Simone Rocha, Heidi Higgins and Don O'Neill, Olympian Sonia O’Sullivan, poet Jan Brierton, broadcasters Joe Duffy and Jenny Buckley, and well-known professional artists Mo Kelly, Shane O’Driscoll, Mick O’Dea, Mim Scala, William Murray and Thelma Mansfield.

This year promises to be a blockbuster year for the mystery art sale with over 3,500 postcard artworks by over 1,000 artists on sale – the biggest collection yet in its nine-year history.

Of course, the beauty of incognito, and what makes it an art sale like no other, is that the buyer has absolutely no idea of the artist behind the artwork until after their purchase. The thrill is all in the anticipation!

Just Picture It!
2025 sees the artistic fundraising endeavour return to its real-world roots, with a Gallery Sale taking place in the incognito Gallery at Unit 5, Charlemont Square, Dublin 2, as well as the incognito Online Sale at www.incognito.ie, where all the artworks can now be previewed.

Half of the collection will be available for purchase in the incognito Gallery which people can preview in person on Wednesday and Thursday, April 9 & 10, with the sale itself taking place on Friday and Saturday, April 11 & 12.

The other half of the collection will be exclusively available on the web with the Online Sale taking place on Wednesday, April 16, from 8am. All the artists behind the incognito 2025 artworks will be revealed the following day. 

Watercolours, oils, pastels, acrylics, stained glass, and textiles, are among the mediums employed by the artists, while this year sees photography featuring in the art sale for the first time since 2021. Photography artworks will only be sold in the incognito Gallery at Charlemont Square.

Each postcard-size artwork costs €70 and it will be a case of first-come, first-served, for the Gallery Sale, and fastest-finger-first for the Online Sale, as to which lucky art aficionados scoop their prized piece.

To ensure fairness, each customer is allowed to purchase only one item per online transaction. In the gallery, customers can purchase up to three artworks.

To date, incognito has raised over €1.2 million in funds to support vital in-home nursing and respite care provided by the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation. Jack and Jill currently provides nursing care and respite support to 427 families caring for children, up to the age of six, with severe learning disability often associated with complex medical needs, in communities across Ireland.

Feel a Connection
For contemporary artist, Maser, there is a very personal reason behind his support for incognito:
“It means a lot to me personally. My brother-in-law, Jack, was helped greatly by the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation many years ago, which this event supports. My mother-in-law and wife speak so highly of the work they did for him, so I feel a connection to their mission. I’ve contributed work over the last few years and am playing a bigger role in helping facilitate the show this year. For me, it’s about that sense of community and supporting a cause that makes a difference. If I can contribute even a little to that, it feels incredibly meaningful.”

For Gorey woman, Eilish Begley, mum to baby Matthew (age 21 months), the support provided by Jack and Jill means the Begley family can focus on what matters most—making memories together, cherishing every moment and ensuring Matthew gets to live his best life, surrounded by love:
“Our son Matthew was born with an inoperable cardiac condition. At ten days old we were told he had four weeks to live and we were referred to palliative care. We were devastated, but our main focus was to get Matthew home and to make memories as a family, together with our other son, then four-year-old Patrick, for whatever little time we had. Without Jack and Jill’s support, we wouldn’t have been able to bring Matthew home. Jack and Jill has been a constant source of support since those first days. Matthew has thrived at home and is now 21 months old but it still very sick. He is so precious; we celebrate his birthday on the 8th of every month. We have a cake and do something special as a family. With an uncertain future, we make the most of every day and every milestone.”  

Best of Both Worlds
For incognito curator Lucinda Hall, this year’s hybrid art sale in the virtual and real worlds will delight both artists and buyers alike:
“With more postcards in our collection than ever before, we are so excited to go hybrid for incognito 2025! We’re thrilled with the success of incognito online over recent years, bringing incognito to new audiences at home and abroad, but the heart of incognito has always been in the gallery. People love to see the art up close and personal, and there is no better feeling for an artist than to have their art on display. This year’s collection is guaranteed to capture the imagination—the quality is genuinely fantastic!”

For Deirdre Walsh, CEO of the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation, each artwork sold will make a meaningful difference for Jack and Jill families:
“I cannot thank the art community enough for their incredible support of this much-loved fundraiser. With incognito, not only are people buying an original piece of art that they love, but they are also helping to fund vital in-home nursing and respite care provided by the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation for so many children across the nation. Now, that is something truly priceless.”