Liz Toonkel (she/her)
Lead Artist
Liz Toonkel is a queer American Jewish female magician, performance artist and animal rights activist who felt the magic show format needed shaking up and was in urgent need of fresh approaches. Toonkel thrives on storytelling being deemed “a fantastic storyteller” (The Sappy Critic) and “an irresistible performer who deserves to break out in the UK and worldwide” (To Do List) and her work ranges from performance and installations to films. Pulling from her expertise as a production and costume designer for film and theater, she wields entertainment value as a point of access.
She recently performed and displayed her artwork at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival (4 stars (To Do List), Highly Recommended Show (FringeReview)), the 2023 Cincinnati Fringe Festival, Aarhaus Festuge with Live Art Denmark, Honor Fraser Gallery, LAX Festival, ltd Gallery and the 2016 Queer Biennial in Los Angeles. Liz was nominated for an Art Director’s Guild award for her production design of the Oscar nominated animated feature film Marcel the Shell with Shoes On. Liz was the first time recipient of the Calarts Distinguished Young Alumnx of the Year Award in 2023 for her work across the arts. She is a magician member of the Academy of Magical Arts.
