“Artful Deceit” opens July 19 in the Strawbridge Family Gallery
CHADDS FORD, PA — A new exhibition opening this week at the Brandywine Museum of Art is set to dazzle — and deceive — visitors in the best possible way. Artful Deceit: Trompe l’oeil and the Pursuit of the Real opens Friday, July 19, in the museum’s acclaimed Strawbridge Family Gallery, offering a captivating exploration of illusionistic realism from 1825 to today.
The exhibition runs through November 2 and promises to be a highlight of the season for both Wyeth fans and Chadds Ford locals.
Trompe l’oeil — French for “deceive the eye” — is an art technique that uses shadow, texture, and perspective to create the illusion of real objects. The effect is so convincing that viewers often do a double-take, unsure if what they’re seeing is a painting or the real thing.
“This show asks you to slow down and really look,” said Associate Curator Kerry Bickford, who organized the exhibition. “That moment of doubt, when you question what’s real, opens the door to a much deeper experience.”
Featuring nearly 30 works by celebrated artists such as William Michael Harnett, John Frederick Peto, De Scott Evans, and contemporary visionaries like James Welling and Greg Mort, Artful Deceit reveals how artists have long played with perception to explore themes of humor, materialism, anxiety, and identity. Most of the works are drawn from Brandywine’s own extensive collection — a point of pride for the museum, which has become a national leader in American realism.
For longtime supporters of the Brandywine and followers of the Wyeth legacy, the exhibit continues the museum’s mission to elevate the depth and diversity of realism in American art. While Andrew Wyeth’s precision and detail are well known, Artful Deceit expands the conversation, inviting visitors to consider how realism can not only capture truth but cleverly distort it.
The exhibit is housed in the Strawbridge Family Gallery, an intimate, light-filled space on the museum’s upper level known for presenting some of its most thought-provoking shows. Previous exhibitions have ranged from The Wonderful World of Wyeth Miniatures to “Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins: The Life & Art of Barbara Shermund”, and the American experience.
Bickford, a recent addition to the Brandywine curatorial team, brings a fresh and thoughtful approach shaped by her background in ecological and place-based art. “Trompe l’oeil may appear playful on the surface, but it holds up a mirror to our culture’s deepest concerns,” she said.
The exhibition is expected to draw a wide audience, from regional art lovers and tourists visiting the Brandywine Valley, to longtime Chadds Ford residents who take pride in their community’s artistic legacy.
Whether you’re a seasoned museum-goer or just curious about the artistry behind visual trickery, Artful Deceit is a uniquely engaging experience.
If You Go
Artful Deceit: Trompe l’oeil and the Pursuit of the Real
📅 July 19 – November 2, 2025
📍 Strawbridge Family Gallery, Brandywine Museum of Art
1 Hoffman's Mill Road, Chadds Ford, PA 19317
🕒 Open daily, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
🎟️ Adults: $20 | Seniors: $18 | Students: $10 | Youth (6–18): $8 | Children under 5 & Members: Free
Tickets are available at the door or online. No advance reservation required.
About George Rotsch
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