Polly Morgan

I've always been fascinated of taxidermy ever since I was young, along with a curiosity of going into this field of work to create interesting art pieces. Several years ago, 2006 to be precise, I came across an artist who wowed me as well as became an inspiration. Polly Morgan is her name and what made me fall in love with her work is that she manages to turn taxidermy into beautiful fine art pieces that still have a morbid feel to it.

"A love of animals and desire to preserve them led her to learn taxidermy, under the tutelage of taxidermist George Jamieson. Since then she has gravitated making still lives with the animals as subject.

Her intention has never been to mimic the natural habitats of animals, as they are traditionally displayed, but to place them in less expected scenery. The scale and settings are often unnatural, but the animals are never anthropomorphized. Seeing them out of place encourages us to look at them as if for the first time; a sheds its association with horror and disease and can be rightly viewed as a beautiful animal."




"Carrion Call"
(Taxidermy Quail chicks in wood coffin. 2009)



(Taxidermy Nuthatch in crystal jewelry box. 2009)



(Taxidermy Wren in crystal jewelry box. 2009)



"Former Things"
(Waxwork model with taxidermy Jackdaw on a table and chairs with melting cutlery and taxidermy chicks falling from a crystal chandelier.2007)



"Still Life After Death (rabbit)"
(Taxidermy Rabbit in top hat with paint.
Sudeley Castle reconstruction 1 show. July 1 - Oct 31 2006)



"Still Life After Death (fox)"
(Taxidermy Fox in giant champagne glass with crystal chandelier.
Sudeley Castle reconstruction 1 show. July 1 - Oct 31 2006)




"The Last Enemy"
(Taxidermy Robin lying on a common prayer book with miniature crystal chandelier in glass bell jar. 2006)



"Murdocks Commission"
(Taxidermy Blackbird and Songthrush on a medical dictionary and pill pots in glass bell jar. 2006)



"Still Life After Death Pigeon"
(Taxidermy Pigeon and Chick with a miniature crystal chandelier in glass bell jar. 2005)



"Love Bird"
(Taxidermy Love Bird and White Mouse on sconce candle looking into a mirror with a miniature crystal chandelier in glass bell jar. 2005)


Note! "All taxidermied animals are either road casualties or have been donated to the artist by pet owners and vets after natural or unpreventable deaths. Polly Morgan is a member of the Guild of Taxidermists, which adheres to and promotes the law pertaining to taxidermy, and keeps a detailed log of all animals in stock."

http://www.pollymorgan.co.uk