French-American inventor
Optical illusion designer
100+ original creations
My illusions may seem magical, but the real magic is seeing eyes light up, smiles appear, and people of every age, anywhere in the world, ask: “How is that possible?”
At the age of six, I created my first invention: a bicycle bell with a built-in rear-view mirror.
Discover optical illusions that turn paper and cardboard into seemingly impossible objects. Olivier Redon is a French-American inventor based in California, with more than 100 original creations at the intersection of art, science and magic.
Created with Chloé Redon, Oh La La Box and Transparent Cube were Top 10 finalists in the Best Illusion of the Year Contest in 2021 and 2024. Explore the videos, discover the science, or get in touch about exhibitions, educational projects and product licensing.
Work
A profile published in The Almanac in July 2024 describes his workshop in Portola Valley, California. Chloe Redon contributes to writing descriptions of their creations and partnership proposals. The newspaper also reports on their presentation at the Bay Area ART and Math gathering in June 2024.
Jennifer Yoshikoshi, “Portola Valley-based optical illusionist creates the impossible”, The Almanac, July 3, 2024.
Richard Wiseman featured Redon’s work in November 2024, highlighting his use of materials such as paper and cardboard. In another post, discussing a variation on the Beuchet chair illusion, Wiseman noted that Olivier Redon had previously developed a similar idea.
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Richard Wiseman, “A world of illusion”, Richard Wiseman, November 28, 2024.
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Richard Wiseman, “New book and new illusion”, Richard Wiseman, April 29, 2024.
In 2025, Olivier Redon and Chloe Redon were credited as illusion designers for the interactive installation “You’ve been shrunk!”, presented as part of the exhibition Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester.
On August 12, 2025, Olivier Redon and Chloe Redon presented their optical illusions at
the Oakland Magic Circle.
In 2025, Olivier Redon and his daughter Chloe served on the judging panel responsible for selecting the ten finalists in the international Best Illusion of the Year Contest.
“Judges”, Best Illusion of the Year Contest: “2025 Judges: Olivier and Chloé Redon.”
Illusions
Oh La La Box, credited to Olivier and Chloe Redon, was selected as one of the ten finalists in the Best Illusion of the Year Contest in 2021. According to the authors’ description published by the contest, two parts using reverse perspective visually combine to appear as a box when viewed from a specific position.
“2021 Finalists”, Best Illusion of the Year Contest.
Transparent Cube, also credited to Olivier and Chloe Redon, was among the ten finalists in the 2024 contest. The authors describe a construction combining an anamorphic rear section with a front frame using forced perspective, creating the impression of a transparent cube suspended in space.
“2024 Finalists”, Best Illusion of the Year Contest.
“Wow… How is that possible?”
"You’ve been shrunk!" interactive, where visitors can take photos using optical illusions designed by Olivier and Chloe Redon.
"He is one of the smartest and most inventive people in the field of optical illusions"
Prof Richard Wiseman, Professor of the public understanding of psychology
Science is Magic (ages 8 to adult) distributed by The Magic Factory reaching audiences in 52 countries.
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available for sale at
Hanky Panky
Christopher William Tyler is a neuroscientist,creator of the autostereogram ("Magic Eye" pictures),
and is the Head of the Brain Imaging Center at the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute[
We don’t see the world as it is, but as our brain invents it.”
Olivier
Let’s create something impossible together.
For toy and book licensing, museum installations, exhibitions or educational collaborations, contact Olivier Redon.
Email: olivredon@gmail.com
Please include your organization, project idea and preferred timeline.
All of my original research, photographs, videos, illustrations, written materials, and publications relating to optical illusions including content shared on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, my website, and other platforms are protected by copyright to the extent provided by applicable law. Unless expressly permitted by a license or applicable law, any reproduction, republication, modification, distribution, or commercial use of these materials requires my prior written permission. Sharing my work online does not place it in the public domain or grant permission to remove my name, alter the credits, or present my work as someone else’s creation. © Olivier Redon. All rights reserved.
