© 2021 by Olivier Redon
Olivier Redon is a French-American inventor who creates optical illusions. Using paper and cardboard, he crafts amazing objects: a cube appears to float in mid-air, and some shapes look impossible. His creations surprise both our eyes and our brains! Two of his creations were selected as finalists in an international optical illusion contest. Olivier’s illusions also feature in *Science is Magic*, a kit sold in several countries. It contains illusions for having fun and discovering the amazing tricks our brains can play on us!
“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
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.
“Oakland Magic Circle”, 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.
Science is Magic (ages 8 to adult) distributed by The Magic Factory reaching audiences in 52 countries.
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[
