This May Robert Lange Studios (RLS) in Charleston, SC will celebrate 20 artists from around the globe and their desire to fool the viewer using the age-old painting technique of trompe l’oiel. Each artist will create multiple works exemplifying their specific style, genre and subject matter. The exhibition will hang through most of the month of May. A reception, featuring music, wine, and hors d’oeuvres will take place on May 2 from 5-8PM and is open to the public.
Trompe l’oeil, French for “deceive the eye,” is an artistic tradition rooted in illusion and visual trickery. Fool Me Twice celebrates this centuries-old practice with a modern twist, featuring works that blur the boundaries between reality and representation. This exhibit is seven years overdue with RLS first hosting “Fool Me Once” in 2018. Many of the same artists have been invited back for this show.
“There’s something timeless about creating a painting so convincing it makes someone lean in closer, maybe even reach out to touch it,” says Robert Lange, realist painter and owner of RLS. “This show highlights not only technical brilliance but also a shared sense of wonder between the artist and the viewer.”
The exhibition brings together an outstanding lineup of painters, each renowned for their ability to render the everyday as extraordinary. Featured artists include:
Julie Beck, Natalie Featherston, Anthony Waichulis, Robert Stark, Joel Carson Jones, George Ayers, Patrick Nevins, Marina Dieul, Alan Magee, Sharon Moody, Robert Lange, Leeah Joo, Daniel Caro, Sean Norvet, Matthew Bober, Joshua Suda, Randall Rosenthal, Jay Davenport, Jacob Pfeiffer, Anthony Adcock, Samuel Wilson, and Megan Reed (Mae).
One of the show’s highlights comes from artist George Ayers, whose painting features a hyperrealistic frog appearing to break through the surface of the canvas. “I wanted to create something that makes people question the limits of the painting itself,” says Ayers. “The frog isn’t just painted on the surface—he’s breaking through it, challenging what’s real and what’s illusion.”
Fellow artist Matthew Bober reflects on the genre’s impact: “Trompe l’oeil invites you to slow down and really look. In a world where we often scroll past images in an instant, these paintings ask for a longer gaze—and they reward it with surprise.”
“These artists are storytellers, tricksters, and magicians,” Lange adds. “Their works aren’t just about fooling the eye—they invite you into a dialogue about perception and reality.”
Visitors to the May 2 opening reception will have the opportunity to meet several of the featured artists, enjoy refreshments, and experience a fun night of art in Charleston. The event is free and open to the public at Robert Lange Studios, located at 2 Queen Street in historic downtown Charleston.
The gallery is open 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. everyday and by appointment.
