Otis Kaye: The Illusionist of Currency Otis Kaye (1885–1974) was an American artist whose distinctive style—trompe-l'œil painting, primarily focused on U.S. currency—earned him recognition as a master of illusion and appropriation. Born in Dresden, Germany, he emigrated to the United States with his parents at the age of three, establishing himself in Nahma, Michigan, where he honed his drafting skills and began his artistic journey amidst the burgeoning lumber industry. Despite the absence of extensive documentation regarding his formative years—no birth certificate exists, nor are records…