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Artist Creates Mind-Bending Optical Illusions on the Palm of His Hand

Italian makeup artist Luca Luce uses the palm of his hand to showcase mind-bending optical illusions. With the help of perspective, clever shadow placement, and a photorealistic style of drawing, he produces surreal, three-dimensional artwork that tells fantastical stories in stunning detail.

In a series of peculiar paintings, Luce depicts anything from tiny creatures living underneath his skin and tentacles sprouting from his wrist to a tiny, four-eyed face emphatically talking to him. His portfolio even includes the visually creative reveal of a power outlet in his palm, as though he were a cyborg. Other illusions, which are less strange, feature him “holding” precious jewels or an incredibly cute rodent.

Whatever the subject matter may be, Luce's artistic expertise convincingly creates these whimsical scenes. They'll make you do a double take, and for a second, wonder if they're real.

Luca Luce: Instagram | Facebook

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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