When Dublin artist Leah Hewson hit a creative block last year, she couldn't figure out why.
With hindsight and some introspection, she realised that she was entering a new phase of her life calmer, less frenetic and that for her work to be authentic, it had to reflect that change of pace.
'For me, my main inspiration is knowing my voice as a human and an artist and my work has to be authentic to where I am at in life,' explains Leah.
'It's not just about being optimistic and outgoing and energetic like I was in my twenties, now I'm moving into a slower, more nuanced phase of my life and to me, tuning into myself and making work that is authentic to where I am now is one of my biggest inspirations.'
Where once her art involved 'loads of spray paint and loads of bright colours', Leah, who celebrated her 39th birthday recently, is now experimenting with a softer, more emotive brush work and constantly thinking about colours and their relationships with each other.
This more subtle approach to her work doesn't mean a move away from her signature abstract art though. Leah has just come from a sneak preview at the incognito Gallery in Charlemont Square where some of the secret art works featuring in this year's mammoth fundraising sale is on display and tells me that several guests were able to spot her donation straight away.
'I think it's fair to say that I've stayed pretty true to myself,' says Leah. 'A couple of people knew my work immediately.'
This is the second year that Leah has taken part in Incognito, an art sale where the identities of the artists are only revealed after the event. Half of the collection will be exhibited in the incognito Gallery and will be on sale on Friday and Saturday, April 11 and 12, while the other half will be available online on Wednesday, April 16.
Each postcard-size artwork costs €70 and mediums used in up to 3,500 donated pieces include watercolours, oils, pastels, acrylics, stained glass, textiles and for the first time since 2021, photography.
Proceeds from the art sale, now in its ninth year, will go to the Jack and Jill Foundation, which provides vital in-home nursing and respite support to 420 families caring for children with severe learning disabilities across Ireland. To date Incognito has raised over €1.2 million for the charity.
This year, she's contributed three pieces of art to the sale. And she's in good company; previous contributors have included Bruce Springsteen, The Edge, Ronnie Wood, Bob Geldof, Tracey Emin, Philip Treacy and her famous uncle, Bono. I ask her if she approved of his art.
'He's a good scribbler,' she laughs.
In 2010, Leah graduated from the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) with a First- Class BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art and has worked as an artist ever since.
Given the artistic leanings within the Hewson clan, it's little surprise that she inherited such creative genes. That ability to self-express through creativity comes from both sides of her family, Leah says.
'One of my sisters works in film production and my other sister is a singer, so there's definitely a desire to be self-expressive across different platforms, through different mediums and yes, to different stratospheres, of course.
'Maybe that's where the nurturing came from; having all that around me, growing up.'
Her U2 frontman uncle is 'super encouraging' of her work and 'really supportive', as is her actor cousin Eve. She speaks with pride about the star of Bad Sisters and The Perfect Couple, describing her recent stratospheric success as 'amazing'.
'To see where her acting career started and to see where she is now is super inspiring,' says Leah.
'It's amazing to see her doing so well and I couldn't be prouder of her. She's riding the wave and making loads of cool and interesting productions, which is great to see.'
With artists, actors and musicians in the family, one imagines dinner parties and get togethers Chez Hewson are somewhat lively.
'There is a bit of craic, but there's a competitive side to us too,' agrees Leah.'At the Christmas dinner table, the games start coming out and we all get creative with the rules too.'
A former studio assistant for Sean Scully in New York, Leah's work has been shown at home and in the States, including a six month residency in the prestigious Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) gallery in Dublin that culminated in a two-week solo exhibition.
Public collections of her work include The Trinity College Dublin History of Art Collections and The Law Society of Ireland while her paintings adorn walls in private collections from New York to Norway. Recent installations she's particularly proud of include a 36-foot glass corridor in Los Angeles and the reimagining of the Guinness Gate in Dublin for St Patrick's Festival weekend.
She won't be drawn on celebrity commissions, though it's safe to say there have been a few.
'I never tell,' she laughs. 'What's great about commissions is that they're all different and each brings its own brief and set of challenges.
Art fans can preview the collection in person in the Incognito Gallery at Charlemont Square on April 9 & 10 with the gallery sale taking place on April 11 & 12. The online sale will take place via incognito.ie on April 16.
