Alton Pickens' fascination with the circus - and the notable darker side of the carnival - can be seen in artworks over the course of his career. In The Acrobat, Pickens depicts one of the most recognizable circus figures, the daredevil acrobat, walking a tightrope. But is all what it seems? While the titular acrobat appears to be walking on his hands, he is actually wearing socks imprinted with the image of hands to trick the audience. The red-eyed, blue face at the center of the canvas isn't the result of stage makeup, it's actually a prop used to further the illusion that the performer is upside down. His real head is hidden beneath a sheet at the top of the work.