December 2nd 2024.
Shelby Walton is an artist based in the US who has gained recognition for their unique and thought-provoking miniature artworks. These artworks feature dead beetles in various human-like positions, often with sex toys or other props. Shelby, who hails from Denver, Colorado, has created over 1,000 of these miniatures by carefully taking apart and putting back together the insects.
Initially, Shelby's miniatures were "tame," but over time they have evolved to become more complex and "dirtier." Many of the artworks revolve around the theme of sexual freedom, celebrating what is often viewed as taboo or frowned upon. Shelby explains, "I'll have bugs embracing their sexuality in a dirty scene. I made a bug that is sitting, using a vibrator, and smoking a vape. I also made a gender-bending bug, wearing high heels and holding a used condom and handcuffs." They also incorporate words like "whore" and "slut" into their art, reclaiming these derogatory terms and pairing them with beautiful butterflies.
As a queer artist, Shelby's frames and phrases often touch on themes of being gay and the struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community. They explain, "We've experienced a lot of hate in the community." Shelby's upbringing in a religious household in Colorado Springs also plays a significant role in their art. They reject organized religion and the harmful ideas it spreads, wanting "an element of control over [their] own life and sexuality." They add, "The bible tells you that homosexuality is a sin, that wives are the property of their husbands, that sex before marriage is bad... So I take all of these old-fashioned and religious ideas and I turn the opposite of that into art."
At the age of 16, Shelby attended a Christian wilderness therapy program in Georgia to help with their depression. After a year of being "cut off from the world," Shelby developed a passion for pressing plants and collecting dead insects. Following the program, they began brainstorming ideas for what to do with their collection. This is when the insect miniatures were born. Shelby's favorite insects to work with are beetles due to their variety and durability, but they also use butterflies, moths, mantises, and scorpions. They source their insects from sustainable sanctuaries in Peru and Madagascar and thrift for miniature objects locally.
Shelby's process involves designing the setting first and then carefully breaking off the insects' legs and gluing them back together in the desired position. They have become skilled at manipulating the insects to achieve the desired look, and each sculpture takes between two to eight hours to create, depending on its complexity. These miniatures are sold at craft markets and online through social media, where they have gained a significant following. However, not everyone understands or appreciates Shelby's art. They have encountered people who make "sour faces" or even tell their children, "No honey, not this one." Despite this, Shelby enjoys engaging in conversations with these individuals, hoping to challenge their perspectives and share their side of the story.
To learn more about Shelby's unique and thought-provoking art, follow them on Instagram @curi_oddities.
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