Think you know taxidermy? This fashion designer turned professional taxidermist will make you rethink it all

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

For many people, taxidermy conjures up images of gothic homes, horror movies, or evil doctors in trench coats, but in reality, taxidermy is an art that can reap beautiful results. In fact, many high-profile individuals collect taxidermy like they do fine art. Martha Stewart’s home in Maine is decorated with a taxidermied bear, Angelina Jolie once gifted her daughter a taxidermied bird, and President Theodore Roosevelt is known for his extensive taxidermy collection complete with bats, bird eggs, and a buffalo head.

To further prove misconceptions about the practice, most taxidermists are animal lovers seeking to preserve and honor deceased wildlife such as Divya Anantharam. Actually, Divya pretty much shatters every preconceived notion about taxidermy. Originally a designer in the fashion industry, the stunning Brooklynite dabbled in taxidermy before making it her full time profession.

She now holds the title of taxidermist in residence at the Morbid Anatomy Museum in Brooklyn where she teaches taxidermy classes both nationally and internationally. When she’s not doing commissioned museum work, private clients hire Divya through her business, Friends Forever Taxidermy.

You might find yourself wondering how a fashion designer becomes a taxidermist, but Divya points out an obvious connection between the two careers: leather. During Divya’s time as a designer, her work became focused in wearable leather sculpture, which in turn, led her to taxidermy. In Divya’s opinion, the real disconnect between fashion and taxidermy occurs when animal ethics is considered.

“A lot of people think taxidermy is crude or gross, but they are really disconnected with the way things work. Whether it is the sourcing process (every taxidermist has a code of ethics they go by, and are very obedient of wildlife conservation laws, often taking an active part in enforcing and influencing it), or the taxidermy process itself, which is very clean and elegant when done correctly. I used to work in the shoe industry, mainly in leather and exotic hides, and that was much more “gross” than taxidermy. [Unlike in the shoe industry], the tanning and preservation processes used in taxidermy are more sustainable and the whole animal is used. It takes a lot of artistry and skill to put something back together and make it look alive again.”

Not only does Divya make animals look alive, but she also adorns baby chicks with pink polka dots, rabbits with pearls, and deer busts with colorful flowers. To some, such artistic additions might seem unnatural, but there’s something about Divya’s taxidermy style that allows the animals to tell their story. This effect likely stems from Divya’s deep affinity for animals.

“Reanimating an animal is a way of showing love and respect for it, by attempting to make it as beautiful as it was in life and honor its existence. A lot of people don't really care about animals the way taxidermists do. Taxidermists can tell you how each little hair or feather behaves, how every membrane, inner, and outer eyelid creases and moves, the different layers of protein that make up a claw, or all of the nuances of an inner nostril. Most people have no idea so much anatomical study (and sculpting) goes into it. The finished product isn't just a representation of an animal, but a way to pay tribute to the wonder of nature that couldn't be done without extensive study and intimate knowledge.”

It is Divya’s thoughtfulness towards her craft that is perhaps the most striking of all her qualities. While the Thrillist deems Divya “Brooklyn’s Hottest Taxidermy Expert,” Urban Agenda regards her as “Brooklyn’s Most Insightful Taxidermy Expert.” More than art, Divya’s taxidermy is a tangible representation of her unique perspective on death and dying.

“Death is the hardest thing for people to wrap their heads around. Our society sees death as something disgusting and untouchable, when it isn’t. It is an inevitable reality for us all, and making an effort to make peace with it can help us lead better lives. Since most of the animals I work with are naturally deceased, I do feel for them in the way that I feel for anything at the end of life. It is an emotional experience to know just how much death is all around us, yet nobody thinks of it. I feel for anything that has died, but I would feel worse if it were buried instead of being turned into a piece of art that celebrated its beauty and expressed the fragility of life.

To me, it is more disrespectful to say something becomes disgusting simply because it is dead. Nobody says that about leather shoes or burgers, but that’s because the animals’ faces aren't there for them to look at. We have removed anything recognizable about the animal it came from. It’s more comfortable that way.”

Divya is certainly not the type to stay in her comfort zone. She sometimes collects and stores naturally deceased animals from rural areas that are in the proper condition to work on in special freezers. As aforementioned, all the animals Divya uses are ethically sourced. In other words, none of them are killed for the sole purpose of taxidermy, but are the product of abatement work, byproducts of local farming, or were hunted for food. Divya explains that animals with injuries can be fixed during the taxidermy process, a testament to her high level of skill. Depending on the nature of her work, it can take anywhere from three hours to three months to complete an animal.

“Aside from each type of skin needing a specific preservation technique, getting the anatomy right and getting all the parts to match well takes a lot of time and study. This is the part that a lot of people find difficult. Like any art, the more you practice, the better you get and the more elegant and refined your hand becomes.”

It turns out that Divya has a refined hand when it comes to writing as well. She is currently in the process of putting together a photo-heavy tutorial book for beginner and intermediate taxidermists. Until it hits shelves, taxidermy hopefuls will have to stick to in-person classes taught by Divya at the Morbid Anatomy Museum and The Evolution Store in NYC. After all, what’s a better than some taxidermy experimentation to kick off Halloween?