The art world is a realm of productive fictions, flights of fantasy, and all-around legerdemain, where value springs from belief and profound truths are often found via circuitous paths. Artists, of course, are the preeminent illusionists in this mix, evolving and casting aside styles with ease—and sometimes even identities, adopting pseudonyms to slip undetected (or under creative pretenses) into environments ripe for intervention. Sometimes, dealers, curators, and writers join in on the fun. Below is a key to a few of the more notable alter egos from the current and art history alike, with identifications listed where appropriate.
The art world is a realm of productive fictions, flights of fantasy, and all-around legerdemain, where value springs from belief and profound truths are often found via circuitous paths. Artists, of course, are the preeminent illusionists in this mix, evolving and casting aside styles with ease—and sometimes even identities, adopting pseudonyms to slip undetected (or under creative pretenses) into environments ripe for intervention. Sometimes, dealers, curators, and writers join in on the fun. Below is a key to a few of the more notable alter egos from the current and art history alike, with identifications listed where appropriate. 
