As creatures of the natural world, we have our vices. Some are drawn to drinking or gambling, while others might devour a family-sized bag of mini peanut butter cups in one sitting.

Even animals have their proclivities. Barracudas, for instance, are attracted to shiny objects, often mistaking watches and jewelry for the silvery fish they typically prey on. This confusion has led to more than a few accidental nibbles on human limbs — a startling experience for both the fish and the person.

While BMoCA’s latest exhibition doesn’t offer candy, slot machines, or cocktails, visitors can channel their inner barracuda at the new “Smoke & Mirrors” exhibition, open now through January. The show spotlights eight Colorado artists who employ unconventional techniques and materials to create mesmerizing, sometimes misleading artworks. These pieces use shiny, transparent and reflective objects to blur the lines between illusion and reality — much like a magician’s tricks (or a barracuda’s bad eyesight). Through intricate manipulation of light, form and texture, the exhibition invites viewers to question what is real and what is a distortion, allowing us to explore how we perceive the world around us.

This exhibition is the third and final installment of the year under BMoCA’s curator, Jane Burke.

“We had three seasonal exhibitions this year: spring, summer and a fall exhibition,” Burke said. “The overarching theme for all three was based on the concept of reflection. The spring show was about self-reflection, the summer show focused on physical and philosophical reflection and this final show is a literal interpretation of reflection, based on materiality that the artists are using.”

Throughout the exhibition, pieces reveal themselves to be more than they initially appear. Sculptor and University of Colorado Boulder alum Mary Ehrin’s work, for example, features shiny, rock-like objects that, upon closer inspection, are fabric-covered sculptures polished with nickel.

“Her pieces reflect her interest in fashion — you can see the influence in how they’re constructed,” Burke said. “I love the element of illusion. While they resemble rocks, they could also be interpreted as conceptual handbags, with a sense of separateness.”

In another section of the exhibition, a black wall outfitted with gutters — designed to resemble the exterior of a building — presents shiny, metallic forms popping out like tinsel. At first, these look like decorative ornaments, but a closer look reveals them as weeds made of mylar film. Despite being made of plastic, these weeds have a magnetic quality, drawing in the viewer’s eye with an interplay of light and reflection.

These striking forms are the creation of Denver-based interdisciplinary artist Drew Austin. Austin’s work, primarily expressed through drawings, sculptures and light-based installations, reinterprets ordinary objects — like weeds found growing in neglected gutters.

“When people don’t clean their gutters, weeds manage to grow and thrive,” Austin said. “As a queer individual, I think a lot about how weeds, like queer people, can flourish in spaces where they aren’t necessarily wanted. Weeds are resilient; they come back stronger than even when people try to eradicate them.”

Much like weeds in nature, Austin’s mylar creations interact with both wind and light, giving them an unpredictable, ethereal quality.

“With mylar, I can control the form to some extent, but the effect changes depending on the environment — the shadows, refractions, and clarity all shift. I’m drawn to the idea that I can shape the form but not control the outcome. That’s where the magic happens.”

Austin’s work will take center stage in an upcoming workshop in December, where attendees will learn to create botanical forms out of mylar.

“People can make whatever shape they want — leaves, plants — I’m excited to see the diversity and reinterpretations of nature,” he added.

Collin Parson, another featured artist and CU Boulder alum, is known for his geometric works that have been displayed across the Front Range — from the Lakewood Cultural Center to Meow Wolf. Parson’s artistic process revolves around light, space and reflection, using materials like LED lights, mirrors and acrylic to create captivating optical illusions.

“I’m interested in working with light and space,” Parson said. “I use a lot of LEDs and control light, but I also experiment with mirrors to explore how shadows and reflections interact.”

While Parson’s pieces may appear to be sleek, reflective artworks, they represent a deeper collaborative process.

“I’m not a painter — I don’t spend hours in the studio working alone,” Parson said. “My work is done by many hands. It starts with a concept, and then I collaborate with fabricators — experts in metalworking, welding and laser cutting — to bring the vision to life. These experts push the materials to their limits, and the results are always more complex than they first appear.”

Parson’s mirrored acrylic works in “Smoke & Mirrors” highlight this interplay between positive and negative space, creating illusions that shift with light and perspective.

“What seems simple at first becomes a more complex representation of artistry and craftsmanship,” Parson said.

Parson will also participate in the Artist x Fabricator Collab Panel Discussion at 6 p.m. Oct. 24, alongside fellow exhibit artists Trey Duvall and Joel Swanson. Together, they will reveal behind-the-scenes insights into their collaborative processes, offering a glimpse into the craftsmanship that makes their work possible.

Other artists featured in “Smoke & Mirrors” include Sasha Alexandra, Amy Hoagland, Douglas Spencer and Joel Swanson. While the exhibition dazzles with its visual allure, Burke emphasizes that there’s a deeper layer of philosophical contemplation at play.

“The concept of ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ is especially relevant today, where a thin veil often separates what’s visible from what lies beneath,” Burke said. “This extends beyond politics and media manipulation — it’s present in the art world, too, where polished exhibitions can obscure the invisible labor behind them. Many of the artists in this show are concerned with exposing that hidden effort.”

Ultimately, “Smoke & Mirrors” invites viewers to question what is real and what is illusion, challenging perceptions through the artistry of reflection. For more information visit bmoca.org/2024/smoke-mirrors.