Interview
Isabell Vega Mansilla
Isabell Vega Mansilla is an anthropomorphic taxidermy artist. She was born and raised in Germany and then moved to NY State, USA in 2015. While she is delusional about her singing abilities, there has been a plethora of validation that she is a fairly decent creator of anthropomorphic taxidermy art, since 2020. She has been collecting taxidermy art for more than 20 years. She also likes to write in her free time, and she is currently working on her second self-published children’s book. The stories are created around Isabell’s taxidermy artwork and the books feature photographs of her work. She would like to show the world that taxidermy can be whimsical and ethical and more than just a hunting trophy. In 2009, she published her first novel with the DeBehr Publishing House in Germany. In 2012, she published her second novel with the Laudatio Publishing House in Germany. From 2010 - 2012, she taught courses for creative writing in Germany for kids and adults. In 2023, she self published her first taxidermy related children’s book, "The Adventures of Little Wayne" with Amazon/KDP. Currently, she is working on her second taxidermy related children’s book, "Hazel and Clover." She has been creating and selling her taxidermy artwork since 2020 on Etsy and since 2024 at Novis Mortem Colletive, Curiosity Gallery in Colorado Springs.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I was always doing some kind of art. I started to write very early on as a kid. Poems and little stories. In 2009 and 2012, I published two novels in Germany. I was also writing a blog about the remodeling of my old house and the shabby chic and brocante style. I collected taxidermy since I was in my early 20’s and integrated those in my decorations. In 2020, I decided that collecting is not enough anymore. I took a taxidermy class and then got myself started and learned the art of taxidermy on my own by reading books and watching tutorials. I like to work on small mammals that I source only in ethical and clean ways. I do not harm or kill animals specific for my art. I use mainly feeder animals that you can buy frozen in a pet store. Sometimes, I use road kill animals. Life is a fragile, beautiful thing. Death is frightening. But death seems also peaceful to me and often it provides beautiful, sweet wanted freedom. Life must have its end. Without an ending, there is no new beginning. I don’t see death as the opposite of life. Death is more like the counter path to birth to me. Death is only finishing what we started. In my anthropomorphic taxidermy artwork, I work with the death. I like to think that I can give the deceased animals a second life, an afterlife in art and perhaps in a fairy tale. I like to create whimsical taxidermy art and focus on anthropomorphic taxidermy. I also integrate those creations in children’s book stories. My first children’s book was self published in 2023 (The Adventures of Little Wayne). My second one is currently reviewed by a lector. The title will be Hazel and Clover.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“My work is usually not political or socially inspired. But here and there, I do a piece that is motivated by social matters. I created a little mouse neighborhood in some vintage Victorian boots. The piece is called "In da Hood" and I wanted to create a piece that shows that different kind mice (black, white, grey colored) can live peacefully together in diversity and that fur color does not matter. With my work, I want to take people’s mind off of political and social issues, at least for a moment. I just want them to be in awe and enjoy a colorful and peaceful whimsical piece of art.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“I mostly and usually do not have a plan. Or, I do have a plan and when I work on the animal, I feel like it is not a good fit for the plan I originally had. I am a very spontaneous person in life and I reflect this in my way of creating too. Sometimes, an art piece starts with something I find in a thrift store. I see it and then immediately ideas pop into my head. I then create a project around it that develops in a unforeseen way into something whimsical and beautiful.”
Are there any art world trends you are following?
“No, I try not to follow trends. I never liked trends. It started very early on and was annoying my mother quiet a bit. I remember a situation where a specific brand of shoes came on the market in Germany in the early 90's and everyone was wearing them. My mom tried to get me a pair but I denied and said, that I do not want to wear what everyone wears. I always had my own ways and style. I also try to not use other people’s ideas.”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“I am mostly trying to preserve animals and learned it in vintage taxidermy school books that I bought online and in thrift stores or antique shops. I like the old way of doing things and like to keep old traditions alive. I recently started to work with bigger animals too and learned the tanning process to preserve the skins. I love to work with 1/12 doll house miniatures like furniture and accessories. I use doll clothes and accessories and doll bodies (preferred vintage). I also like to go thrifting and find cute vintage items like tea cups with flower prints to use as hot tubs for mice, or vintage cake molds to mount a baking mouse into it. The possibilities are endless if you are open minded! Mostly, I need clay, doll eyes, wire, needle and yarn to finish my animals.”
“Sometimes, an art piece starts with something I find in a thrift store. I see it and then immediately ideas pop into my head.”
What does your art mean to you?
“Art is making me happy! It also takes my mind away from work or my daily routine. It’s my way to cope with stress and calm my mind. I can get lost in it.”
What’s your favorite artwork and why?
“When I was a kid, I had a book about some mice living in a old boot. I loved the book and still love the idea until today, that a mouse family gets cozy in an old boot. One day, I was thrifting and found a single little Victorian child boot. Instantly, my mind started to create a plan for it. I took it with me and created a little mouse shack into it. I had so much fun to do it while being thrown back into my childhood full of lovely memories with my family. I just could not sell this piece yet, although I had many people asking about it.”
Instagram: @furandbladtaxidermyny
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