Fool Me Once: Trompe l'oeil from the Permanent Collection

The notion of trompe l’oeil, or creating an illusion so realistic as to “deceive the eye,” has a long history in visual art. A new exhibition in the Project Gallery includes ten works from the collection that use heightened naturalism, three-dimensional effects, and optical play to create such illusions. While the works present opportunities to showcase an artists’ skill, they also include an element of wit. Trompe l’oeil is, after all, only appreciated if the deception is discovered. Being fooled by a work of art reveals a quirk of human nature: akin to a magic trick, it is one of the few instances in which we delight in being deceived.​