Shigeo Fukuda

Shigeo Fukuda was a sculptor, graphic artist and poster designer who created optical illusions. His art pieces usually portray deception, such as Lunch with a Helmet On, a sculpture created entirely from forks, knives, and spoons, which cast a detailed shadow of a motorcycle.

Fukuda was born on February 14, 1932 in Tokyo to family that was involved in manufacturing toys. After WWII, he became interested in the minimalist Swiss Style of graphic design and graduated from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in 1956.

His home outside Tokyo featured a 4-foot-high (1.2m) front door that would appear far away from someone approaching the house the house.  This door was a visual trick, with the actual entrance to the house being an unornamented white door designed to blend in seamlessly with the walls of the house.

Fukuda died January 11, 2009.