visual illusions
Olivier Redon
I am an independent American-French inventor, consultant, and creative designer specializing in optical illusions, impossible objects, and perception-based installations, blending art, science, mathematics, and magic. Based in California, USA, I creates award-winning works that are copyrighted, patented, or published, and collaborate with international universities, museums, and scientists on bi-interpretation and impossible objects.
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Finalist in Best Illusions of the Year competition (2021, 2024); "Oh La La Box" acclaimed as Best Illusion by The Sun.
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Gold medals at international art fairs; Gathering for Gardner, Bridges , and Math Festival.
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Work featured in BBC's Operation Ouch!, science museums worldwide, "Double Take" publication, "Eye Tricks" products in 52 countries, and exhibitions like Science and Industry Museum Manchester. Recreational math challenges with Alex Bellos The Guardian.
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Annalisa Crannell, editor of The American Mathematical Monthly, features an article in a new MIT Press book that mathematically dissects three of my optical illusions, bridging art and projective geometry.
Major Media Coverage
The Guardian
Featured in a mathematical puzzle column by Alex Bellos, presenting several of Redon’s optical illusions and inviting readers to analyze how the visual paradoxes work.
BBC – Operation Ouch!
Redon’s illusions have been presented in connection with educational demonstrations explaining how the human brain interprets visual information.
The Almanac
The California newspaper featured a profile of Olivier Redon describing his work as an optical illusion creator producing more than 100 visual experiments that combine science and art. video
Richard Wiseman a world of illusion
"Don't trust your eyes" 100th anniversary celebrations Oakland's Magic Circle.
MAA Santa Clara University 2026
Nuremberg trade fair 2025
Los Angeles toy trade 2025
"We didn't know it was
impossible to create
"impossible objects"
so we did it"
My twin sister and I in France,
at school in the 1960s.
The Magic Factory
Hanky Panky
"My work demonstrates that visual illusions are not errors of perception, but essential tools for understanding how the brain constructs reality".
"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.
“I've been devouring your website. How very wonderful! I'm very much interested in the work you're doing.”
Annalisa Crannell, American mathematician, Editor, The American Mathematical Monthly
and an expert in the mathematics of geometric perspective.
" Olivier your artworks are indeed unique and remarkable"
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
"That is amazing! The illusion was too good, I didn’t believe it!"
Alex Bellos British writer and mathematics communicator who writes a long‑running maths and puzzles column for The Guardian.
"Your illusions are wonderful
You would be a great addition to our line up of presenters".
Stan Allen, producer of MAGIC Live, an annual convention for magicians in Las Vegas.
"Olivier is passionate about art, science, and magic. As an optical illusionist, he can wear all the hats. By strategically tricking the human eye, Olivier and Chloe use their art to make the impossible possible" Jennifer Yoshikoshi, L'Almanac
Optical illusionist creates the impossible
" I like your work, and you opened my eyes to some new illusions".
Scott Kim
Artist, author and recreational mathematician
"Your work is truly fascinating. The way you’ve managed to translate the theoretical concept of "impossible objects" into physical, three-dimensional forms that can be held is incredibly impressive- it is a "cool" and creative intersection of art and perception". E F, PhD Associate Professor
E.F PhD Professor
"Olivier is one of the world's leading inventors of illusions".
Mark Setteducati, American magicien and inventor of illusions, games and puzzles.
"Olivier, has created several 3D objects that produce three-dimensional illusions. He explains that these 3D illusion effects occur under normal, binocular, and near viewing conditions. I find it useful to test and report this hypothesis, given the widespread belief that binocular disparity can override fundamental shape constraints".
Lydia Maniatis, Professor in the Psychology (visual illusions)
"You have created truly fascinating images. There is certainly a close link between perspective and mathematics/geometry; your illusions therefore clearly have a mathematical dimension".
Stuart Boersma
Math Horizons, editor
"Very cool work, lots of innovative stuff".
André Armenante Los Angeles–based magician
"Your illusions are not only visually striking but also thought-provoking from a scientific perspective".
Eiji Watanabe
Associate Professor in the Laboratory of Neurophysiology at the National Institute for Basic Biology (NIBB) in Okazaki, Japan, known for his research on visual perception, brain mechanics, and artificial intelligence .
"Very interesting"
Justin Flom is an American magician, YouTuber, and social‑media creator
Maths and Puzzles column
The Guardian.
My work is published:
Three illusions appear in the 2027 MIT Press book edited by Annalisa Crannell.
Kinetic spider
Oh la la Box
Kinetik star
Our "Shrinking Box" on BBC
University of Hertfordshire
SLIDER
Olivier Redon and Chloe Redon are featured as illusion designers for interactive exhibits in the Science and Industry Museum's Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You exhibition in Manchester. Their work includes participatory sensory illusions such as the "You’ve been shrunk!" interactive, where visitors can take photos using optical illusions designed by Olivier and Chloe Redon. Other exhibits, like face-flip illusions and negative image stares, further explore brain and perception science, connecting Redon's expertise to the core of Operation Ouch!'s educational experiences in Manchester.
"We didn't know it was
impossible to create
"impossible objects"
so we did it"
Nuremberg trade fair 2025
Los Angeles toy trade 2025
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Scott Richards gallery San Francisco
Justin Flom Las Vegas
Science Museum Lab
"Don't trust your eyes" is an optical illusion-themed contribution to the 100th anniversary celebrations of Oakland's Magic Circle.
An ordinary day on a Wix website
"My work demonstrates that visual illusions are not errors of perception, but essential tools for understanding how the brain constructs reality".
© 2021 by Olivier Redon OliRed All rights
reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast,
rewritten, or redistributed.