Buzz
Throughout history, different cultures have transformed the remains of both humans and animals into various objects, such as clothing, tools, ceremonial items, and even medicinal products. While such practices might seem rare today, the truth is that many still find ways to incorporate the deceased, whether human or animal, into their lives, often facing little resistance in doing so.
10. Jewelry
We've previously mentioned companies that turn your loved ones into diamonds after they pass, but that’s not the only option for those wishing to wear the departed. Sunspot Designs crafts jewelry from bones and teeth. Columbine Phoenix, the owner, compares working with these materials to using “homegrown ivory,” emphasizing that the intent is to celebrate life, not death. She sources bones from educational suppliers who acquire them from schools or museums updating their collections. It's no surprise that the primary audience is goths, with some pieces priced as high as $200.
For those fortunate enough to have their loved ones still in their lives, here's a quirky trend: women can now transform their breast milk into jewelry. There are over 70 businesses specializing in turning a woman's milk into fashionable and personal keepsakes. Companies like Breast Milk Keepsakes and Mommy Milk Creations will take a small amount of your milk and create beads to be used in pendants, earrings, and bracelets, with prices starting at around $80.
If you recall Kesha's eccentric style, you'd be surprised to learn that she crafted some of her clothing from human teeth—specifically, from her fans’ teeth. In 2012, she asked her fans to send in their teeth, and she ended up receiving around 1,000. She used them to create earrings, a headdress, several necklaces, and... a bra. Talk about a truly devoted fan base.
9. Photography
Auctions are often a treasure trove for unusual and inexpensive pieces, attracting those with an artistic eye. Francois Robert attended an auction in Michigan expecting to find old lockers for practical use. But as per the auctioneer's golden rule, whatever was inside the item was also up for grabs. To his surprise, one of the lockers he bought for $50 contained a human skeleton, which became the inspiration for his next artistic project.
To clarify, the skeleton had been used for educational purposes in science classes, and wasn’t the tragic remains of a forgotten nerd. In fact, this particular skeleton was wired to maintain its shape, so Robert had to exchange it for another before starting his project. He decided to make the most of his new 'companion' by arranging its bones into various shapes that evoked scenes of war. Robert created guns, grenades, tanks, planes, and knives, ultimately using his second skeleton to craft a chilling photographic collection called Stop the Violence. While it's not the most subtle art collection, Robert certainly made sure his $50 investment was well spent.
8. Sculpture
At first glance, Tim Hawkinson's 1997 sculptures, Egg and Bird, might seem like exactly what they’re named after: an egg and a bird. However, upon closer inspection, these sculptures are actually crafted from a far more unusual material—hair and fingernails, arguably two of the most iconic body parts.
Subtler than most of the other entries on this list, these sculptures symbolize our deep connection to nature and suggest that our perception of reality is inescapably linked to our bodies, which provide the raw materials that make the illusion we see possible.
7. Molds
Anthony-Noel Kelly, a British artist, gained recognition in the 1990s for his highly realistic sculptures of human bodies, particularly busts. However, after a 1997 exhibition, the police grew suspicious of his work, leading to a search that uncovered human remains at both his home and his girlfriend's apartment. Kelly had been stealing body parts over three years with the assistance of Niel Lindsay from the Royal College of Surgeons. These remains were used to create casts, which were then covered in silver and gold.
Around 40 body parts were retrieved, including heads, torsos, and limbs. Lindsay was paid £400 for his role in the crime but was sentenced to six months in prison, while Kelly received a nine-month sentence. They became the first individuals in the UK to be convicted of theft of human remains, following a legal ruling that human bodies are considered property and can thus be stolen. This offense had already been classified as “outraging public decency.”
6. Lampshades
Over the years, there has been considerable debate over whether the Nazis actually made lampshades from human skin. Some dismiss it as a bizarre myth designed to portray the Nazis as even more sinister than they already were. However, in 2005, a lampshade was purchased for $35 at a car boot sale from a seller who claimed it was made from the skin of a Jewish person. The buyer, Skip, grew uncomfortable with the lamp and gave it to his journalist friend Mark Jacobson, who decided to investigate further.
The lamp was sent to Bode Technology in Washington, DC, one of the top DNA labs globally, known for its work with the US government, including identifying remains from 9/11. After testing, it was confirmed that the material on the lampshade was indeed human skin, sourced from two different people. The first mention of lampshades made from human skin by the Nazis dates back to 1945, reported by journalist Ann Stringer, who also noted that other items from Buchenwald concentration camp included shrunken heads and a human pelvis ashtray.
Artist Andrew Krasnow has created several pieces using human skin, including lampshades that directly reference Buchenwald. His other works include boots, maps, flags, and even a $10 bill. It's clear that these creations are meant to make a statement about morality—or the lack thereof—in the United States.
5. 3-D Printed Sculptures
If you had asked someone a decade ago whether a machine could be activated and left alone for 24 hours to construct a house on its own, you’d probably have thought it was highly improbable. Yet, here we are today. So, if I were to ask whether it's possible to transform your grandfather into a rocking chair, it might be worth reconsidering your response.
Wieki Somers, a Dutch artist, sought to find a more innovative way of utilizing cremated ashes. This led to her In Progress exhibition, where Somers loaded 3-D printers with ashes that were donated. These ashes were then crafted into sculptures and household items. The creations are disturbingly familiar, urging us to question our connection to material possessions. While we might hope this idea doesn’t become widespread, you may have to adjust to a future where you distinguish between 'Rock on, Grandpa!' and Rock on Grandpa.
4. Cheese
The Dublin Science Gallery, located at Trinity College, hosts exhibitions that merge the worlds of science and art. One such exhibit, Selfmade, showcased cheese crafted from celebrities—not using their milk, but instead their phlegm, tears, skin bacteria, and whatever else might be hiding in the recesses of their belly buttons.
The bacteria collected from these celebrities' bodies was used to cultivate cheese, resulting in a flavor and scent reminiscent of the body part it originated from. A cheese and wine event was organized, though attendees were only allowed to smell the art, not consume it.
3. Self-Sculpture
Hananuma Masakichi, a 19th-century artist, created a life-size self-sculpture after being diagnosed with tuberculosis. Using a complex arrangement of mirrors to carve parts of his body he could not see, he meticulously crafted each body part individually. His sculpture, made up of approximately 5,000 pieces, is so expertly assembled that not even a magnifying glass can detect the seams between the parts.
Masakichi carefully polished the sculpture, used needles to create minuscule pores in the skin, and inserted hairs into these pores. For each body part, he matched the hair from the corresponding area of his own body to ensure absolute realism, even down to the eyelashes. He also removed his own teeth, fingernails, and toenails, crafting eyes from glass.
By 1885, Masakichi completed the sculpture and would stand beside it, challenging onlookers to distinguish between the human and the art. It was said to be incredibly difficult to tell which was which. The sculpture is now housed in Ripley’s Odditorium, where it is meticulously restored and preserved by skilled professionals.
2. Wall Art
Forgotten Inheritance is a controversial piece of wall art made from stone and hardened sand, first exhibited at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu in 1996. While it was approved by a committee that included native Hawaiian members, the sculpture sparked outrage among many other natives because it contains the actual bones of Hawaiian ancestors.
A sculpture of this nature is sure to attract criticism anywhere, but the people of Hawaii adhere strongly to the belief in malama iwi, the sacred duty of preserving and honoring their ancestors’ remains. After receiving numerous complaints over the years, the convention center officials decided to cover the sculpture in September 2013 and began exploring methods to remove it without damaging either the artwork or the bones. Eventually, an agreement was reached, allowing Forgotten Inheritance to remain on display.
1. Fly-Lashes
Jessica Harrison is a British artist known for her work in a field she calls “body furniture.” While the term may be a bit misleading, as her creations don’t actually use pieces of the human body, they draw inspiration from it. Her creations include a hairy chair and drawers that resemble human flesh. However, it was her 2010 viral video showcasing her new design—fake eyelashes crafted from real fly legs—that really turned heads.
Though these fly-lashes aren't for sale (at least not yet), Harrison went ahead and made and wore them herself, which many found revolting. The creation has sparked strong criticism from PETA, who likened it to the unethical practice of cutting off beagle ears to create clothing.
