Eyeballs and Wolf Skulls: Museum of Curiosity

Where can you find a human skeleton, a woolly mammoth tusk, an Ice Age wolf skull, at the new Museum of Curiosity in the United Kingdom. The brainchild of gallerist and collector Mike Snelle, The Museum of Curiosity will draw its inspiration from the 'Wunderkammern' of Renaissance Europe: collections put together by wealthy, well-travelled patrons that sought to represent a microcosm of the world by bringing together objects from natural history, religious relics, historical and archaeological artifacts and art. 

Its roots hark back to Sir Hans Sloane, whose famous batch of curiosities became the founding collection of the British Museum and the Natural History Museum after his death in 1953.

And there are also specially commissioned artworks from the likes of Swoon, an American artist consumed by transcribing the dreams of slumberers from across the world, and Butch Anthony, whose 80-acre Alabama home is replete with so many oddities that it’s become a folk art destination in its own right. 



Anthony quotes Norman Bates, the murderous central character of Psycho, in naming his hobby as “stuffing things – you know, taxidermy”.

The Museum of Curiosity, featuring works by artists including Swoon, Butch Anthony, Oskar Rink, Giles Walker, Delaney Martin, Taylor Shepherd, Jessica Harrison, Tessa Farmer and Nancy Fouts opens at Pertwee, Anderson & Gold Gallery, Bateman Street, Soho on 7 November 2012.

Open Monday-Friday 11am-6pm (12pm-5pm Saturday). Admission free. Follow the museum on Twitter @CuriosityMuseum.