Dark Art - Macabre & Morbid Fine Art
Dark art is an art genre we frequently feature on our site. Fine art which can be described as macabre, surreal, morbid, spooky, unsettling, bizarre, and creepy constitute the dark art genre. We have compiled this list featuring noteworthy macabre artists, art galleries which exhibit dark artworks, morbid and spooky-themed art shows, as well as memento mori works or artworks known as death art on a quest to connect fellow dark art enthusiasts worldwide.
Call for Artists: A special note for macabre artists!
If you are an artist looking to submit your artwork, Circus Living is working on a 'Call For Artists' listing and eventually, an app that will update artists on relevant upcoming call for entries or call for submissions. Join our Circus if you wish to stay updated on the development of this app.
Need help deciding on whether the Austin Art Garage is the right gallery for your artworks? If you are an artist interested in finding out more about the Austin Art Garage, here's a page listing all of the info we have compiled on the gallery thus far. Information regarding the gallery's submission requirements, costs involved (if any), the gallery's artistic preferences (ie. if the gallery tends to promote a specific theme in their exhibitions), the gallery's reputation (as taken from reviews and media coverage), the gallery owner/founder's professional and educational background, and how the gallery promotes its artists' works are outlined in this page.
Need help deciding on whether the Artplex Gallery is the right gallery for your artworks? If you are an artist interested in finding out more about the Artplex Gallery, here's a page listing all of the info we have compiled on the gallery thus far. Information regarding the gallery's submission requirements, costs involved (if any), the gallery's artistic preferences (ie. if the gallery tends to promote a specific theme in their exhibitions), the gallery's reputation (as taken from reviews and media coverage), the gallery owner/founder's professional and educational background, and how the gallery promotes its artists' works are outlined in this page.
Need help deciding on whether A Gallery/Allen+Alan Fine Art is the right gallery for your artworks? If you are an artist interested in finding out more about A Gallery/Allen+Alan Fine Art, here's a page listing all of the info we have compiled on the gallery thus far. Information regarding the gallery's submission requirements, costs involved (if any), the gallery's artistic preferences (ie. if the gallery tends to promote a specific theme in their exhibitions), the gallery's reputation (as taken from reviews and media coverage), the gallery owner/founder's professional and educational background, and how the gallery promotes its artists' works are outlined in this page.
Need help deciding on whether Agora Gallery is the right gallery for your artworks? If you are an artist interested in finding out more about Agora Gallery, here's a page listing all of the info we have compiled on the gallery thus far. Information regarding the gallery's submission requirements, costs involved (if any), the gallery's artistic preferences (ie. if the gallery tends to promote a specific theme in their exhibitions), the gallery's reputation (as taken from reviews and media coverage), the gallery owner/founder's professional and educational background, and how the gallery promotes its artists' works are outlined in this page.
Need help deciding on whether Addison Art Gallery is the right gallery for your artworks? If you are an artist interested in finding out more about Addison Art Gallery, here's a page listing all of the info we have compiled on the gallery thus far. Information regarding the gallery's submission requirements, costs involved (if any), the gallery's artistic preferences (ie. if the gallery tends to promote a specific theme in their exhibitions), the gallery's reputation (as taken from reviews and media coverage), the gallery owner/founder's professional and educational background, and how the gallery promotes its artists' works are outlined in this page.
Activity: Seal Watching at Parc National du Bic
Region: Bas-Saint-Laurent
Distance: Approx 5 1/2 hours from Montreal
Parc National du Bic is perfect for families interested in nature, camping, and wildlife, as well as families who have an appreciation for scenic views and natural landscapes. Young kids in particular will enjoy walking around, investigating, and playing on the park's sandy shores.
Located in the St. Lawrence Estuary, Parc national du Bic proudly showcases the capes, bays, coves, islands, and mountains which has made it a popular destination. Its breathtaking sunsets are considered to be one of the world's finest.
In the summer and early fall, seal watching is one of the park’s major attractions. The harbour seal, also the park’s animal emblem, stays in the estuary year-round, while the grey seal arrives in about mid-July. The opportunity to watch the seals from the shore makes the experience accessible to everyone.
Photo: Jean-Pierre Sylvestre
Activity: Experience the magic of Forest Lumina
Region: Eastern Townships
Distance: Approx 2 hours from Montreal
Forest Lumina is perfect for families interested in nature and the outdoors, as well as families who have an appreciation for mythological beings and magical settings.
Foresta Lumina is a multimedia nighttime experience along Coaticook’s Canyon. Seven beautiful manuscripts introduce the cast of fictional characters presented through sophisticated lighting, mapped media and original sound tracks. Foresta Lumina invites you in a variety of theatrical effects that create a moody but magical setting. Visitors enter an imaginary heritage of the region and capture the mythology of the Quebec forest.
Photo: Forest Lumina
Qimmy Shimmy: An Interview with Qixuan Lim. There is something incredibly disarming about Qixuan Lim’s (aka Qimmy Shimmy) macabre sculptures. They provoke an array of emotions from their viewers ranging from delight, admiration, horror, to repulsion. Some recoil with horror upon seeing her works, while others marvel at the artistry involved.
This page provides an ongoing list of events, markets, conventions, fairs, and festivals worldwide which exhibit lowbrow and pop-surrealist art.
Contemporary Surrealism | Macabre Art
Established in 2008 by Paul Booth, Last Rites has become a premiere gallery for contemporary surrealism and a haven for artists who are not afraid of exploring and dissecting every aspect of the human condition to investigate the invisible, the unintelligible and the inexplicable with a focus on the most recondite twists and turns of reality.
Contemporary Surrealism | Macabre Art | Alternative Art
Copro Gallery was founded in 1992 by Joe Copro, Greg Escalante and Douglas Nason as an entity to curate art exhibitions of emerging artists and publish the highest quality limited edition prints. Copro Gallery also became a base for assisting and curating museum exhibitions which it continues to do. In 1994 owner Greg Escalante co-founded Juxtapoz magazine and the gallery participated with the magazine to curate, publicize and be a media sponsor of many events inside and outside of the gallery and further promote artists. In 2000 the gallery founded a permanent location.
Pop Art | Contemporary Surrealism | Street Art | Macabre Art
Dorothy Circus Gallery is a space dedicated to the most intriguing new tendencies in contemporary art, with great focus on the most original and compelling traditional and digital painting techniques and visual codes stemming from pop iconography, contemporary surrealism and street art.
Surreal Art | Macabre Art
Contemporary collection of new & established artists, with a focus on surrealism to realism.
Lowbrow Art | Macabre Art | Pop-Surreal Art
The Gristle Art Gallery is dedicated to promoting the best in lowbrow, pop-surreal, contemporary, dark and macabre art.
Contemporary Art | Pop Surrealist Art | Lowbrow Art
Their aesthetic ranges from contemporary, pop surrealism, lowbrow, to narrative arts in a variety of mediums. They feature exhibitions of established and emerging artists.
Lowbrow Art | Folk Art | Outsider Art | Underground Art
Showcasing mainly figurative, narrative paintings and unusual sculpture, La Luz de Jesus Gallery's exhibitions are post-pop with content ranging from folk to outsider to religious to sexually deviant. The gallery’s objective is to bring underground art and counter-culture to the masses.
Pop Surrealist Art | Contemporary Art
Revolution Gallery is committed to presenting artwork that is provocative and imbued with dark beauty, emotion, and mystery. Revolution Gallery shows artwork with an emphasis on pop-surrealism and contemporary figurative work, in a wide-range of media.
Low Brow Art | Underground Art | Outsider Art | Bizarre Art
There are many New Orleans galleries that purvey traditional, sentimental images of Louisiana, but La Madama Bazarre lets loose a stellar consortium of underground artists whose multimedia work is alternately spiritual, delicately pretty, ethereally mystical and overtly sensual — drawing upon and reveling in all the glorious contradictions and cultures of New Orleans and its environs.
Lowbrow Art | Hi Art
Speakeasy Art Gallery showcases the work of local and international contemporary artists. The curators at the gallery offer art collectors and enthusiasts a playful mix of Hi Art with an edge and Lowbrow with masterful technique. Speakeasy Art Gallery insures that the art it exhibits possess inviting esthetics and a desire to explore new and original ideas.
A list of where to find Halloween-themed art has been created for those interested in spooky, haunting, or scary ooak (one of a kind) artworks in preparation for the most bewitching time of the year.
Looking for fun things to do with your toddlers in and around Montreal? Here is an ongoing list of toddler-friendly activities in Montreal as well as attractions and places to visit suitable for the youngest ones in your family to enjoy.
Looking for fun things to do with your teenagers in and around Montreal? Here is an ongoing list of activities in Montreal as well as attractions and places to visit suitable for the teens and teenagers in your family.
Looking for fun things to do with your kids indoors in Montreal? Here is an ongoing list of indoor activities in Montreal suitable for the entire family to enjoy.
Looking for fun things to do with your kids in and around Montreal during winter? Here is an ongoing list of winter activities in Montreal as well as attractions and places to visit suitable for the entire family to enjoy.
Looking for a family-friendly spot to enjoy panoramic views of downtown Montreal, Mount Royal, Old Montreal, and the St. Lawrence? Ride the tallest Ferris wheel in Canada, La Grande roue de Montréal.
The belief surrounding a natural artist is confirmed when you meet an artist like Cristóbal Graciá Salgado of El Dodo Albino. Cristóbal is a self-taught artist who taught himself how to sculpt using guides he found on the internet. Not without a great sense of humour, Cristóbal enjoyed his family's first disgusted reactions to his 'dissected-looking' creatures. His creations are so life-like that it is no wonder they would entice such reactions.
"Everyone has to learn something even masters. A bit of EGO is good but you should not live thinking about what other people think about you or your work." - Cristóbal Graciá Salgado
When you look at any of Klaudia's dolls, what do you see? Do you see a sinister creature staring back at you, or amidst its dark elements, do you see a glimpse of light? Klaudia Gaugier possesses a remarkable talent. Unnervingly beautiful and profoundly unique, her dolls speak great volumes. Fascinated with the duality of man, Klaudia creates her dolls in man's image. She reasons that what people see in her artwork says more about the viewer than it does about her. She forces you to think about your own relationship with the artwork, where you stand, where you are coming from, and how you have come to view her dolls in such a way. She makes you think - a sign of a truly engaging artist.
"I like neither compliments or criticism - both are subjective assessment of the recipients, the interpretation of the image that they see through their own prism. In the process of creation I have to be faithful to myself. Only then it has true value." - Klaudia Gaugier
Colleen Downs of Loopyboopy is an enigma of sorts. Creative, expressive, moving, and incredibly talented, Colleen, unlike most artists, does not have an exact plan when she creates her wondrous dolls. As soon as she starts the molding process, she lets her imagination take course and in a sense plays both an active and passive role as the doll takes shape and form. A New Orleans native, it's no wonder her doll creations exhibit a certain magical quality about them - how they just come to form and almost take on a life of their own. New Orleans is a magical place as most NOLA natives will tell you and so it only comes naturally that Colleen and her artwork would possess and display some of these magical characteristics.
"I'm constantly motivated and inspired by the human condition. Those with afflictions or abnormalities, for lack of a better word are infinitely more interesting than the rest of us." - Colleen Downs
There is nothing ordinary about artist Trent Manning's works. Innovative and contemporary yet his works still manage to connote an old-world charm to them. I cannot help but think of Gepetto, the craftsman and toymaker from the popular novel (and film) Pinocchio, when I see his creations. Trent Manning's 'toys' invoke a sense of nostalgia - a sense of familiar comfort - while at the same time convey unconventional and gloriously grim characteristics. To describe Trent Manning's works as unique would be an understatement of sorts. He is a master craftsman who successfully blends the old with the new in a way I have never seen before. I had the opportunity to learn more about this remarkable artist, his life, and his artistic process.
"This series is very much a reflection of my personality: a somewhat disillusioned cynic, with an odd sense of humor, who still clings tightly to his inner child." - Trent Manning
There is just something about Sunny Carvalho's artwork that resonates with me. Vibrant, moving, full of life, with just the right touch of darkness and morbid characteristics, Sunny's artwork transcends categorization. When looking at her artwork, one cannot help but think there is more than one story being told by them. Each part of Sunny's paintings seem to tell a story which contributes to an overall tale. A brilliant artist and a talented storyteller, some of Sunny's art contain magical and other-wordly characteristics to them which can be likened to story books or fairy tales. Just like her paintings, Sunny Carvalho's zest for life and refreshing enthusiasm has a magnetic way of pulling you right into her colourful and lively world.
"I always tell my students to not criticize their own work. The puzzle of artwork is made of many pieces and each time a person completes a project, it is a building block to the next step." - Sunny Carvalho
Michele Lynch is a superhero. Having once worked for the creative-sucking Soul Sucker, she has since escaped and created a band of misfits designed to take back their kingdom. Is this all make-believe? Not really. The Soul Sucker happens to be the vice president of a company Michele used to work for. And that is perhaps why some of her fans can relate to Michele and her artwork. Who has not at some point felt trapped in one's career, day to day life, feeling like a mere cog in a wheel with the Soul Sucker draining every bit of energy and motivation one has left? I know I have been in that boat more than a number of times.
"Sadly, there are a lot of people working for the Soul Sucker. So many people have shared their story, and sadly how they feel stuck, and unable to escape. I wish I could free everyone from the castle of corporation." - Michele Lynch
There is just something about blythe dolls that is so fascinating. They have the potential to simultaneously delight and terrify. Blythe dolls have that creepy horror-like quality about them which is hard to ignore. Greta Wade-Jenereaux of Shepuppy takes it a step further and actually customizes blythe dolls so that they take on macabre, gothic and dark themes. As cracked and flawed as Greta deliberately makes her dolls to be, however, one cannot deny that they are visually stimulating. Ultimately, Greta's dolls exhibit an unconventional beauty about them. Breaking the conventions of what defines beauty, Greta's dolls are powerfully subversive and meaningful.
"I love the thought of a once-loved beautiful doll being left behind or abandoned somewhere, the signs of neglect and time reflected in her eyes and on her face, her once shiny hopeful face now broken with pain and sorrow. And somehow even through the decay and cracks there is still beauty in there if you're willing to look." - Greta Wade-Jenereaux
It isn't everyday you see a stuffie that makes you gasp in wonder at its amazing detail while at the same time entice the usual warm feeling one gets when looking at a cuddly stuffed toy. Unlike most stuffed toys out there, there is nothing common or ordinary about Aleisha's work. Sinister yet loveable, macabre yet adorable, monstrous yet cute - Aleisha Chapman of Lazy Voodoo manages to combine these contrasting elements beautifully into her beloved creatures. Aleisha's attention to detail and love for her craft translates well into her voodoos with their wondrously animated goofy expressions which seem to take on a life of their own.
"Making art is my therapist, my sense of accomplishment, my entertainment, and my connection not only to me, but to the rest of the world. I was diagnosed with cancer the last year of art school, and because of art, I had a reason to focus on something other than myself." - Aleisha Chapman
At the Pointe-au-Père Maritime Historic Site, visitors can board Canada's first publicly accessible submarine - the Onondaga - and discover the daily lives of the 70 men who lived for months at a time in this 90-metre (300-foot) submarine.
Visitors are also given the opportunity to dive into the story of the Empress of Ireland through a four zone multisensory experience. The Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse, the second tallest lighthouse in Canada, is also located at the site and visitors can enjoy the panoramic view from the top.
Photo: Mathieu Dupuis/Le Québec maritime
A national historic site of Canada, the Reford Gardens has been a cultural space and must-see destination for over 50 years. The Reford Gardens provide visitors with varied multisensory experiences, housing approx 3000 species and varieties of plants, including the famous Himalayan blue poppy.
Starting in late June, the International Garden Festival presents innovative contemporary gardens designed by landscape architects, architects and artists from around the world. Conceptual gardens give visitors the opportunity to experience contemporary art and offer children a giant playground in which to explore fun and interactive installations. Photo: Reford Gardens
The Village Québécois d’Antan was created in 1977 by historian Claude Verrier at the request of the Drummond County Chamber of Commerce. The objectives of the corporation were to recreate a Québécois village and its surroundings, over a century-long period (19th to 20th century) and showcase everything that made up this heritage.
The Village now offers activities through four seasons, with the Village in Summer (in the summer), the Haunted Village (Halloween), the Desjardins Village in Lights (Holiday season) and the Sweet Village (sugar shack).
Photo: The Village Québécois d’Antan
Domaine Floravie offers “tiny house”-style mobile eco-cottages with stunning views of the St. Lawrence. Perfectly integrated into an enchanting site, their 7 non-smoking 20’ by 10’ cottages are mobile to minimize their environmental impact.
At the enchanting site of Pointe à Santerre, le Domaine Floravie offers both the conditions and the facilities that promote healing, renewal of self with nature and with environmental, social and spiritual core values.
Photo: Domaine Floravie
The Musée Maritime du Québec (MMQ) allows visitors to relive the daily lives of sailors and explore events and places that have marked the maritime history of Quebec.
At the museum, visitors can board historical ships, learn about the brave men who dedicated their lives to protecting the lives of fellow sailors and the unique lifestyles they lead aboard lightships, explore the St. Lawrence River's strong connections with the lives of seafarers and river shore inhabitants, and view the museum's collection of 200+ scale models of the ships that have marked Quebec's history.
Photo: Musée Maritime du Québec
A major feeding ground for marine mammals, the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park is dubbed as one of the best whale-watching sites in the world. From May to October, visitors can admire these majestic creatures on land or on one of Croisières AML's whale watching cruises.
Aboard the AML Levant, the Rivière-du-Loup cruise takes passengers past scenic rugged coasts, heritage lighthouses, and picturesque islands on the way to vantage points where passengers can spot seals, whales, and belugas. Croisières AML even offers a whale guarantee for those who choose to embark on one of their tours.
Photo: Croisières AML
Located in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, Grosse île was a quarantine station for the port of Québec from 1832 to 1937. Grosse île is known for its evocative landscapes, inspiring nature, and moving history. Visitors to the village and hospital sector (accessible by trolley or by foot) are given the opportunity to delve into the lives of past inhabitants, employees and immigrants of the island. Visitors can also admire the impressive Isle-aux-Grues archipelago by taking the Mirador Trail.
For those interested in retracing the footsteps of their Irish ancestors, Grosse île houses the Irish Memorial which bears the names of people who died either on Grosse-Île or on the boats: immigrants, employees and sailors. Photo: Grosse île and the Irish Memorial
A 2-day travel itinerary for the Chaudière-Appalaches region for families and individuals interested in unique, quirky, or magical experiences. This itinerary has been tried, tested, and reviewed by the Circus Living crew.
Photo: Chaudière-Appalaches
A 3-day travel itinerary for the Bas-Saint-Laurent area for families and individuals interested in unique, quirky, or magical experiences. This itinerary has been tried, tested, and reviewed by the Circus Living crew.
Photo: Philippe Delisle
The Zoobox is an eco-friendly cabin nestled in the middle of the woods in Eastman, Quebec. Equipped with a king sized bed, enough sleeping areas to fit six guests, a bath tub you can wheel to the deck, an outdoor shower, a fully equipped kitchen, and a play area (climbing wall, firefighter's pole, etc.), the Zoobox is glamping at its finest.
Nearby Activities: Swimming in a private lake, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hiking, biking, snow shoeing, cross-country skiing.
The Musée de sculpture sur bois des Anciens Canadiens is the largest interpretation centre and most prestigious wood carving museum in North America. The museum which showcases over 250 sculptures is located in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli - a picturesque village known for its attention to craftmanship and the arts.
Located on the banks of the St. Lawrence, Saint-Jean-Port-Joli is known as the "Mecca" of sculpture and holds a special place in Québec's cultural landscape.
Photo: Musée de sculpture sur bois des Anciens Canadiens
Kylie Dexter's artwork perfectly combines dark and morbid elements with that of cuteness overload. I dare you to look at her doll's sad expressions and not want to reach out and cuddle them. A fan of "Dark Crystal" and "Never Ending Story", Kylie's love for puppets ultimately lead to the beginning of Dolldrums. There is just something about Kylie's dolls that make you want to love them to pieces. "My favourite thing is to hear from people afterwards that I had somehow captured the spirit of the person in the doll. I try to focus on the doll being with them and bringing some love into their lives. We call it DooVoo (reverse voodoo)." - Kylie Dexter
An Interview with Mahlimae (Doll Artist), Nicole Watt. The power of simplicity, understanding mankind's darkness and light, and the wild unknown.
What is it about death and its perceived connection with a being’s physical form that influences how one reacts to corpses on display?
Perfect for Harry Potter and Halloween themed get-togethers, 6 year old Kiarra made some chocolate maple frogs!
To classify Sarah’s artwork into a particular genre would be doing it disservice. Part steampunk, part Victorian, part vintage, part taxidermy, part oddity, part goth, brilliantly crafted with multiple found objects, Sarah’s works transcend any categorizations. Upon viewing her works, It isn’t difficult to ascertain that limitations and bounds are not part of Sarah’s artistic process, or vocabulary for that matter. "I think the lid has just popped on keeping things socially acceptable. I think the macabre has been a part of things all along and people are not ashamed to show it anymore." - Sarah Dolezal
Stay in a Zoobox in the woods (Eastman) The Zoobox is an eco-friendly cabin nestled in the middle of the woods in Eastman, Quebec. Equipped with a king sized bed, enough sleeping areas to fit six guests, a bath tub you can wheel to the deck, an outdoor shower, a fully equipped kitchen, and a play area (climbing wall, firefighter's pole, etc.), the Zoobox is glamping at its finest. Nearby Activities: Swimming in a private lake, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hiking, biking, snow shoeing, cross-country skiing.
Ioanna Tsouka is probably one of the most grounded artists I know. For those of you who know her personally, I’m certain at some point you have been inspired by Ioanna’s driven and informed outlook on life’s challenges. Her passion to understand the world in her quest to exact much-needed change is akin to a candle casting light in the darkness. Anger, resentment, and hatred, after all, tend to disappear when one makes a serious attempt to understand the unfathomable. Much in the same way she conveys her understanding of the ways of the world, Ioanna has a way of portraying dark elements within her dolls wrapped with a veil of optimism...of hope - a light that stirs even the darkest of souls. "I love the connection that my work creates between me and the world, the people that provide loving homes for my dolls and everyone that supports and encourages my endeavours." - Ioanna Tsouka
Merging contemporary and surrealist macabre and at times horrific images with Renaissance and Eastern European styles, Basso creates evocative and timeless pieces. There is nothing incredibly disturbing about his works. In fact, one would not be able to say there is anything gory or gratuitous about them. His artworks, however, have a fascinatingly nightmarish quality about them - so subtle and yet so powerfully affecting. "I think that throughout history there has always been a fascination with macabre art. One reason may be that it’s a way for us to help deal with our own feelings of mortality." - William Basso
The artist behind zombienose is somewhat of a mystery. His/her talent is apparent. The animated and imaginative characters he/she creates, their haunting yet darkly sweet qualities, and their unique noses clearly distinguishes them as zombienose originals. "I believe we're all born as artists, but some people give it up early on." - Zombienose
A touch macabre...a touch morbid...and an astounding amount of talent, skill, and heart, artist Chris Haas shows the world that he can take ethically-sourced animal bones and turn them into imaginative and unconventional works of art. "I have been collecting skulls and animal parts that I would find while hiking through the woods and have always had a fascination with nature and creatures." - Chris Haas
Exporail gives families an inside look into the fascinating world of Canada's rich railway heritage. This museum is perfect for the train and history enthusiasts. Family Activities: The Exporail offers various family-friendly themed activities throughout the year. These activities include a chance to ride a miniature train, historic streetcar, passenger train, as well as access to enter certain streetcars, steam and modern locomotives where kids can imagine driving them.
La Grande roue de Montréal — the tallest Ferris wheel in Canada — allows you and your family to see the city and its surroundings from 60 metres in the air. Enjoy panoramic views of downtown Montreal, Mount Royal, Old Montreal, and the St. Lawrence in the comfort of a climate-controlled gondola which is air-conditioned in the summer and temperated in the winter. Family Activities: The La Grande roue de Montréal offers a discounted family package.
"Immortality comes from what we leave behind - the lives we touch and the art we create. Remembering that can put things in perspective." - Chaitow