illusionists

Masters of misdirection

Illusionists are performers who create illusions, typically through sleight of hand, misdirection, and carefully designed props.

The term is often used interchangeably with magician, though illusionist may suggest a grander scale of performance—elaborate stage shows rather than close-up card tricks.

The illusionist made the elephant vanish before a stunned audience.

Some illusionists work in other media, creating optical illusions in art or film.

stage

magicians

Practitioners of sleight-of-hand

performersThose who entertain audiences
prestidigitatorsSkilled hand-trick performers
conjurersPractitioners of stage magic

escapists · showmen · entertainers · tricksters · sleight-of-hand · Houdini · Copperfield · assistants · cabaret · Vegas

deception

deceivers

Those who mislead intentionally

manipulatorsPeople who influence deceitfully
charlatansPretenders to special knowledge
fraudstersPeople who deceive for gain

con artists · tricksters · swindlers · imposters · hoaxers · pretenders · dissemblers · smoke and mirrors · facades · misleading

spiritual

mystics

Spiritual insight seekers

shamansSpiritual healers and intermediaries
fakirsMuslim or Hindu ascetics
gurusVenerated teachers or experts

mediums · mentalists · psychics · seers · occultists · spiritualists · yogis · levitation · apparitions · manifestation

artistic

Escher

Dutch impossible-geometry artist

surrealistsArtists depicting irrational imagery
trompe-l'oeilArt mimicking three dimensions
opticalOf vision or light

perception · perspective · anamorphic · holographers · forced perspective · visual effects · CGI · special effects · Dali · impossible objects

illusionists

magicians

deceivers

mystics

Escher

illusionists

Opposites

Categories

Family