The Art of Deception

The greatest fakers in the art world aren’t forgers, wanna-bes, or even drones churning out 20 Mona Lisas a day for oil-painting stores. They’re practitioners of trompe l’oeil. French for “fool the eye,” the art style was first used in ancient Greece, where landscape murals were so realistic that citizens would try to pick grapes off their painted vines. Arizona’s trompe l’oeil tricksters work their magic in the “Masters of Illusion: Unveiling the Mystery of Trompe L'oeil” exhibit.

“It’s a modern take on trompe l’oeil,” says TCA gallery coordinator Michelle Dock. “Half of the works are just photorealistic, including sculptures and textiles.” But that doesn’t mean they’re any less deceptive. Dock says she often hears exhibit visitors laughing as they reach out to touch something that isn’t real. So look all you want -- just don’t pick the grapes.