Prepare to take a second look—and then probably a third—because artist Vince Hron is bringing the art of optical illusion to Western Illinois University.
The WIU Department of Art and Design will host Hron’s solo exhibition, titled 'Trompe l'oeil,' running Tuesday, Sept. 15 through Thursday, Oct. 15 at the University Art Gallery. Translated literally from French as 'deceive the eye,' trompe l'oeil is an art technique that uses realistic imagery to create the three-dimensional optical illusion of real objects.
Hron’s painting featured in the exhibition showcases his razor-sharp precision, transforming everyday Americana into a masterclass of realism. At first glance, his rendering of a weathered green garage looks less like oil on canvas and more like a high-resolution snapshot from a neighborhood alley. Complete with chipped mintgreen door panels, warped roof shingles that look ready to slide off, a slightly crooked rain gutter and even a weathered basketball backboard mounted up top, Hron captures the textured patina of everyday domestic life so convincingly that viewers might be tempted to try opening the garage door themselves.
Raised in Omaha, NE, Hron earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Drake University in 1984 and his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan in 1987 before furthering his studies at the State Art Academy in Karlsruhe, Germany. After years of maintaining a studio practice in Omaha and teaching across the Midwest, he accepted a faculty position in 1996 at Bloomsburg University (now Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg), where he continues to paint, exhibit nationally and mentor student artists.
Hron’s award-winning work offers a quiet, clever celebration of mundane architectural details, proving that with enough technical skill, even an old backyard garage can become a breathtaking trick of the eye.
The University Art Gallery, located at 1 University Circle in Macomb, is open from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 1-4 p.m. Saturdays. Admission to the exhibition is free and open to the public.
