This award acknowledges the exceptional commitment to magic by the dedicated efforts of an individual over a lifetime, and comes with a prize of $15,000 and an engraved iPad to commemorate the occasion—courtesy of the Slaight Family Foundation. Past recipients include, Johnny Thompson, Ton Onosaka, Max Maven, Dr. Edwin Dawes, Juan Tamariz and Jim Steinmeyer. We now add John Gaughan to this list of luminaries.

John Gaughan is an American inventor and artisan who has spent decades creating magic. Long known as one of magic’s best-kept secrets, his exceptional creativity and mechanical ingenuity have been seen and celebrated all around the world. This master craftsman is also credited by his esteemed peers as both discovering and solving many historical mysteries and reintroducing them to modern magicians. John’s natural curiosity to discover and to rebuild historical magical wonders has actually created a whole new level of scholarship in the history of the art.

A respected historian, collector, builder and inventor, John is also a generous teacher, supporter, friend and collaborator. He has spent a lifetime studying and elevating the boundaries of magic, redefining what is possible in the impossible.

We are thrilled to recognize John Gaughan as this year’s Lifetime Achievement recipient.