About this Service

I am an artist, sculptor, and taxidermist who offers preservation and fabrication services. I specialize in birds, though I offer some services for small mammals and reptiles. Generally, my rates are $100 per hour, though this can vary depending on how labor intensive each project may be. I also teach taxidermy classes at my studio, often to other artists and creative people looking to expand their horizons through this scientific artform. All the materials and methods I use are proven and museum quality.

About this Lister

A unique combination of science and style, Divya Anantharaman is and artist, taxidermist, and educator known for preserving animals with honor and compassion. Her clients range from museums, designers, collectors, and everyday naturalists. Her specialties are birds, small mammals, and anatomic anomalies. Her work seeks to combine the demonstrative aspect of scientific presentation with the symbolic, introspective nature of art, framing taxidermy as an act of care and conservation. She is passionately curious about the untapped potential of this scientific art, and sharing it with others. Her classes seek to demystify the taxidermy process, and make the field more accessible and engaging. She starred in the Emmy winning documentary short, "Rearranging Skin". In her commitment to conservation, she regularly volunteers with NYC Bird Alliance, is on the board at NYC Plover Project.

Background and Expertise

I have been practicing taxidermy for 15 years, and have won awards on a state, regional, and world level-however, my interest is more in our connection to animals and storytelling rather than the existing colonial culture around taxidermy. My interest in this field came from a curiosity about animals, and my biology teacher mother who nurtured this hobby. It became my career when I left the corporate fashion industry to pursue my love of natural history with an offer to be the resident taxidermist at the Morbid Anatomy Museum. I have since built a client base creating work for anyone who seeks wonder in animals. As a queer woman of color, taxidermy resonates with me as an act of redefining the body through transformation, deep reverence, and a meditation on mortlaity.