Cardistry is the performance art of card flourishing, where playing cards are manipulated with precision and creativity to produce visually captivating displays, cuts, fans, and patterns. Cardistry distinguishes itself from magic by focusing solely on the aesthetic and kinetic possibilities of card handling, without the aim of deception or illusion. Cardistry practitioners, known as cardists, card mechanics, or card magicians, employ intricate techniques such as one-handed cuts, two-handed cuts, shuffles, spreads, and fans to showcase manual dexterity and artistic expression.

Cardistry’s origins trace back to flourishes used by magicians to demonstrate skill, including moves like the Charlier Cut and Thumb Fan, but it emerged as an independent art form in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The Sybil cut, popularized by Chris Kenner in 1992, became a foundational move, inspiring a new generation of cardists and leading to the separation of cardistry from traditional magic. The term “cardistry”—a blend of “card” and “artistry”—was first widely adopted in the early 2000s, with the community expanding rapidly through instructional media and online platforms.

Cardistry performances emphasize fluid motion, geometric arrangements, and the unique visual properties of custom-designed decks. The discipline has developed its own conventions, signature moves, and influential figures, such as Dan and Dave Buck, who played a pivotal role in its popularization and in establishing cardistry as a distinct, globally recognized art form.