Anamorphic art is a visual technique in which images are distorted such they appear proportionally correct only when viewed from a angle or with the aid of a device, such as a curved mirror or lens. Anamorphic art manipulates perspective, geometry, and spatial cognition to create illusions that challenge conventional visual perception. Anamorphic art employs mathematical transformations and projection principles, resulting in images that seem abstract or unintelligible till observed from their intended vantage point.

Magicians and mentalists use anamorphic art to conceal secret info, reveal hidden messages, or create dramatic visual revelations during performances.

The technique can be applied to stage settings, props, or even body art, allowing magicians to orchestrate moments of surprise when the audience’s perspective shifts. Notable examples include sidewalk chalk drawings that appear three-dimensional from a viewpoint and historical uses in Renaissance paintings and secret codes. Anamorphic art’s rare attribute lies in its reliance on the viewer’s spatial relationship to the artwork, making the illusion interactive and dependent on precise alignment between observer and object.