Rogue taxidermy is A) What happens after Sarah Palin encounters a moose,or B) the creation of oddities, using traditional taxidermy materials and techniques.

If you guessed B), it's probably because you were looking at the photo to the left.

Robert Marbury, along with his partners Scott Bibus and Sarina Brewer coined the intriguing phrase in 2004, after they meet at an art exhibition in Minneapolis and realized they were doing similar work. Together, they formed the Minnesota Association of Rogue Taxidermists.

Read on to hear more about the place of roadkill and veganism in rogue taxidermy, and more pictures of strange beasts.


This morbid mounting is from Scott Bibus's collection.

"Scott's whole point is showing death in taxidermy," Marbury told Asylum. "This violates an unwritten rule in taxidermy that you don't show death and you don't show blood."
Road kill, such as squirrels, are a big part of the "recycled" philosophy of rogue taxidermy. According to Marbury, the best time collect these unfortunate critters is in October or November, when nature keeps the carcasses cool enough to prevent maggots, but not so cold as to freeze.

The first time Marbury did a show with Bibus and Brewer a dead squirrel was spotted on the road during setting up. "My two partners ran right over to it and fought over who would get it," Marbury remembered. "It eventually turned into a piece."

Here is a piece that eventually got the last laugh. (Sort of.)
Marbury didn't join his partners in their pursuit of the dead squirrel because considers himself a "vegan" taxidermist. As such, he uses taxidermy materials and stitching to fashion his beasts from recycled pelts of toy stuffed animals.

He does, however, participate in Masterclass/Gamefeeds. In these events, whatever animal the artist prepares for the exhibit is also made into food, which is then served to the audience.

"You're not killing an animal just for the work," Marbury explained. "You're using the animals to create a conversation about death and taxidermy."
Mixing different animals is also considered taboo in taxidermy. But it happens to be one of Sarina Brewer's specialties. This chimera, which Brewer calls Capricorn, is ready for the land, sea or air.

Like Bilbus and Marbury, Brewer also embraces a "recycled" approach to taxidermy, and, according to her Web site, "utilizes animals that are roadkill, discarded livestock, destroyed nuisance animals, casualties of the pet trade or animals that died of natural causes."

The Minnesota Association of Rogue Taxidermists boasts a membership of about 40 artist from all over he world. New Zealander Lisa Black, who specializes in "fixed" creations, has an intriguing steam punk aesthetic to her work.

According to Marbury, anyone can practice basic taxidermy just by following the instruction you can find on sites such as taxidermy.net. Still, you're going to need a dead animal, a lot of space and, as Marbury puts it, "a really understanding spouse or roommate."
A collection of rogue taxidermy will be on display at La Luz De Jesus gallery in Los Angeles, from May 7–30.