Looking into those empty eyes… Emotionless bones around a large smile striving from the depths of an unknown personality, creepy happiness carefully drawn in most cases by a row of perfectly shaped teeth. I started to wonder where the tooth fairy is when you need it…

Seen in 1944 Life Magazine

Funky ribbons, precious stones, molded clay and metal pieces, plastic waste and an old typewriter comprise a prodigious “atlas” of human craniums, bizarre sculptures of human skulls. Rather than mastering their victims, the cobras and maggots are more like a prey worn with pride by the “skeletal remains”. Imaginary worlds build up in silver as an argument for a million thoughts and post-mortem braces stay still for a no cavities afterlife.

Glass Artwork, by Kosta Boda

The Ribbon Skull – a metamorphosis of a peaceful world, by Erohe du Azac

Steel Wire Frame, by Tomohiro Inaba

Anatomy in a Jar, Miniature Human Skull in Hand Blown Glass by Kiva Ford

Confetti Death, made with Spray Can Caps & a Human Skull Replica via Spinello Projects

One of the crystal skulls found near the ancient ruins of Mayan and Aztec civilizations, acquired by British Museum from Tiffany’s in 1897, more images and information on this subject at Madame Pickwick Art Blog

Crania Anatomica Filigre, by Joshua Harker

Japanese Ivory Okimono Human Skull, date: 1880 – Tokyo School, Asahi Gyokuzan artistic style, Meiji Period, Via Warner Antiques

Memento Mori sculpture -Carving using rare ice age fossil material, over 10,000 years old – Netsuke style, Via Eastern Trade Winds

Dreams of heavenly quiet and cold nature replace human brains and become stunning scenery on top of human-like skulls built up in silver by the Danish artist Frodo Mikkelsen. Hidden cottages and winter trees, grizzly bears as still images of the last deadly thoughts.

Silver Skull Artwork by Frodo Mikkelsen

Skull sculpture by Frodo Mikkelsen, Courtesy of Esbjerg Kunstmuseum © 2011

Maskull Lasserre gives life to “the unexpected potential of the everyday through allegories of value, expectation, and utility” by sculpting into old computer books.

Book Pages Sculpture by Maskull Lasserre

“The several decorative styles and forms I cite simultaneously hold divine and vulgar meaning in the present age, having an irrational quality that contradict each other.” – Katsuyo Aoki

Porcelain Skulls by Katsuyo Aoki

Porcelain Skulls by Katsuyo Aoki

Jim – “He goes to New Zealand, stops over Vanuatu, discovers Australia, India, and lands in Hong-Kong.” Mixing the multitude of colors and cultures into his artworks.

Corde de polyester via Jim Skull Gallery

Corde de polyester via Jim Skull Gallery

Sometimes not just pure, outrageous form of art, but a leit-motif to celebrate death, the constant companion from birth, a dear friend to be played with, to speak with – Dia de los Muertos, Mexico’s Day of the Dead.

Barro negro pottery, literally translated “black mud,” is hand-crafted in the Oaxaca region of Mexico. Black clay skulls are hand molded and wood fired in thick black smoke to create the black color, then polished using quartz pieces and covered with insects and maggots, snails and… butterflies!

Rare Vintage 1960s Black Clay Skull, Via Etsy

Tibetan Ritual Human Skull, Copyright © Nathan Roberts

Tibetan Ritual Human Skull

Netsuke Skull, 19th century, London British Museum, Via Wikipedia

Walnut skull vanitas, c. 17th century, Photo copyright © Pierre Bergé

Skull Made with Old Recycled Skateboard Decks, by Haroshi

Robotic Human Head Anatomical sculpture born from a reassembled typewriter. Artwork & copyright © Jeremy Mayer

Weird skeleton head sculpture made of recycled plastic pieces

A monologue. The skull of a dead court jester and Hamlet. The words Shakespeare put on the lips of the notorious Hamlet describe perfectly the vicious effects of death.

Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy; he hath borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! My gorge rims at it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. Where be your gibes now? Your gambols? Your songs? Your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar? (Hamlet, Act 5, Scene 1).

But this is definitely the human condition where really nightmarish art begins shamelessly.

Skull Clown (Relic series), Copyright © Vik Muniz

Carved Antique Tibetan Skull

Deus Ex Machina, a wonderful piece of metal art by the talented French sculptor Alain Bellino

Shocking!

Authentic Female Human Skull Jewelry Box, Copyright © Abattoir La Rue

Things you’ve never thought a skull could be: