Illusion artists transform reality at Grand Palais and beyond

Leandro Erlich, JR, Tomás Saraceno, and Fujiko Nakaya are among artists whose works manipulate perception and reality. Erlich's 'Swimming Pool' (1999) at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, creates a trompe-l'oeil pool. His 'The Cloud – Bird' (2022) uses painted glass plates. JR will wrap the Pont-Neuf in Paris with a giant trompe-l'oeil. Erlich will challenge perspective at the Grand Palais, Paris, from June 2 to September 6, 2026. Fujiko Nakaya, aged 94, creates fog sculptures, including 'Earth Talk, Fog sculpture #94768' (1976) at the 2nd Sydney Biennale, and will envelop Honfleur, Calvados, with fog. Tomás Saraceno creates a manifesto work in Argentine salt deserts about lithium mining and communities. The article references E.H. Gombrich's 'Art and Illusion' (1960) and Ignaz Paul Vital Troxler (1780–1866). Other artists mentioned include Christo and Jeanne-Claude (Pont-Neuf wrapped 40 years ago), Yayoi Kusama, Judy Chicago, Felice Varini, Henrique Oliveira, Ann Veronica Janssens, Olafur Eliasson, and Anish Kapoor (Vantablack).