Donald Wexler made walls disappear. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe defied gravity. Frank Lloyd Wright mastered misdirection.
Back by popular demand from last year's Modernism Week, get ready to explore the remarkable interplay between midcentury design and the art of illusion. See for yourself how the magician’s stage and the architect’s blueprint both seek to transform perception and bend reality—creating spaces and moments that leave us marveling at the impossible.
Guiding your journey is Andy Cohen—New York Times notable author, celebrated speaker, and owner of a historic midcentury Modern home. Through his TEDx Talks, Google Talks, and transformative courses, Andy challenges audiences to see their surroundings with fresh eyes. His unique fusion of narrative, architecture and performance will ignite your curiosity and help you appreciate the artistry in both the built world and the world of magic.
From the poetic levitation of a magician’s assistant to the floating lines of a midcentury Modern roof, explore how artful deception and visionary design share a common ambition: delight through surprise. Whether it’s the meticulous misdirection of a sleight-of-hand trick or the elegant manipulation of light and space in architecture, both crafts invite us to rethink what’s possible.
Learn core sleight-of-hand techniques inspired by iconic Palm Springs architecture, uncover the surprising principles behind objects that seem to float, vanish or materialize out of thin air, and try your hand at a magic trick you can share with friends and family.
Prepare to be amazed, inspired, and delighted as the boundaries between design and illusion dissolve—right here in Palm Springs.