Defining my work is not easy. I see myself as a constant student of all things meant to awe, deceive, and mystify, USING RARE AND uncommon knowledge in diverse, creative ways.
I was born in Porto, Portugal, and was exposed to the art of prestidigitation at the early age of 4, developing my brain around the concept of illusions. Later, I graduated in theatre studies to master the art of storytelling and spent several years traveling worldwide, deepening my knowledge of human psychology, humor, and sleight-of-hand.
I’ve been involved in a wide variety of projects, such as helping marketing campaigns for brands like Coca-Cola, Jameson, or Mercedes-Benz, advising on projects on NBC, Disney, or Warner Brothers, or personally training Oscar-winning actresses Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett for their roles in Ocean’s 8.
I spend my days applying my knowledge and creativity to something new. I’m based in Los Angeles, but you often find me in the window seat of an airplane, traveling to my next private event, consulting project, or public performance.
MY PERFORMANCES HAVE BEEN SEEN BY MANY, AND I’VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE RECEIVED ACCOLADES FROM AUDIENCES, PEERS, AND CRITICS ALIKE. HERE ARE SOME OF THE NICE WORDS MY WORK HAS BEEN PRESENTED WITH.
“A TRANSPORTIVE, INTIMATE AND MIND-BENDINGLY MEMORABLE, MAGICAL EXPERIENCE.”
“HELDER IS SIMPLY THE BEST CLOSE-UP, SLEIGHT-OF-HAND MAGICIAN I’VE EVER SEEN.”
“PHYSICS AND LOGIC BECOME IRRELEVANT IN THE HANDS OF HELDER GUIMARÃES. TINY TALES AND PHILOSOPHICAL DILEMMAS ARE SERVED WHILE YOUR PERCEPTION BENDS.”
“AS WITH BORGES’S BEST STORIES — AND UNLIKE ALMOST EVERY OTHER MAGIC SHOW I HAVE SEEN — THIS THEATER EVENT WILL STAY WITH ME FOR A VERY LONG TIME. MY CONGRATULATIONS TO GUIMARÃES AND TO THOSE WHO HAVE COLLABORATED WITH HIM TO CREATE THIS LOVELY AND ENTERTAINING MEDITATION ON THE ENIGMA OF HUMAN EXISTENCE.”
“A MASTER OF ILLUSIONS.”
“AS A RULE, GUIMARÃES IS IN NO RUSH TO CLEAR UP MYSTERIES. HE CULTIVATES THEM THE WAY A HORTICULTURALIST CULTIVATES FLOWERING VINES. BUT HE ISN’T OUT TO DECEIVE. OR RATHER DECEPTION IS PUT IN THE SERVICE OF ENLIGHTENMENT.”
“AN ACE IN THE HOLE.”
“FROM MY RING-SIDE, FRONT-ROW SEAT, YOU WOULD THINK I COULD SEE HIS SLEIGHT-OF-HAND ARTISTRY UP CLOSE ENOUGH TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. BUT NO, I COULD NOT, AND HIS BELIEF THAT WE WILL NEVER KNOW EVERYTHING—AND THAT MYSTERY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING—SETS THE PERFECT TONE FOR A NIGHT OF WONDER WHILE IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS ELECTRIFYING PRESTIDIGITATION.”
“I HAVE NO IDEA HOW HELDER GUIMARÃES DOES WHAT HE DOES. AND I HOPE NEVER TO KNOW. BECAUSE I’M COMMITTED NOW TO THE BELIEF THAT GUIMARÃES IS AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL LANDED AMONG US TO SHARE HIS SUPERPOWER TO BOGGLE THE HUMAN MIND. AND BECAUSE IN AN ERA OF RAMPANT TRANSPARENCY, A BIT OF THEATRICAL MYSTERY RESTORES ONE’S FAITH IN THE ESSENTIAL ART OF EXUBERANT DECEPTION.”
OVER MY CAREER, I HAVE RECEIVED SOME AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS FROM DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE WORLD. BELOW IS A SHORT LIST OF THOSE.
ALLAN SLAIGHT’S SHARING WONDER AWARD (2021)
WEBBY’S VOICE AWARD - BEST NARRATIVE EXPERIENCE (2021)
LA TIMES BEST THEATER PERFORMANCES (2020)
WASHINGTON POST BEST OF THEATER (2020)
API TROPHY (2006 & 2020)
PARLOUR MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR (2011 & 2012)
WORLD CHAMPION OF CARD MAGIC (2006)
ASCANIO PRIZE (2004)
MY PUBLIC SHOWS RANGE FROM IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES TO theatrical PRODUCTIONS, ALWAYS CHALLENGING WHAT LIVE PERFORMANCES ARE AND WHAT THEY CAN BE. Here IS A LIST OF MY most recent PROJECTS.
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The Hope Theory
2024
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Remember & Forget
2023 / 2024
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Back to Wonder
2022 / 2023
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The Future
2020 / 2021
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The Present
2020
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Invisible Tango
2019
TO KNOW WHAT I AM UP TO, SUBSCRIBE TO MY MAILING LIST BELOW. I PROMISE I WILL NOT SPAM YOU EVERY WEEK WITH POINTLESS INFORMATION. YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO SEE HOW MUCH I DON’T UNDERSTAND ABOUT IT.
Interested in knowing more about me and my work?
My blog, Journal of Curiosities, is a personal log that you can read. There, I share personal episodes and anecdotes about my life/work and a bit of the behind-the-scenes creative process. It’s a bit of a glimpse into what my reality is. I am also working on a project called Unable to Copy (a.k.a. Project H) and a few more things that I will keep a mystery for now.
My world is divided between the spotlight of my performances and the shadows of all the secrets I need to preserve. So forgive me if I can’t tell you everything you’d like to know. It’s part of the deal with me, but also a good mantra to take for life: embrace the mystery.
I hope to see you at my next public show or in a private performance.