ABOUT THE ARTIST

 Step right up, curious minds and lovers of the delightfully strange!

Behold… the Matron of Mice, spinner of tiny tales, and chief artist of Atropos Mediaworks — Shelly Strickland

I conjure miniature worlds where carefully prepared taxidermy mice, repurposed objects, and tiny props collide into eerie, whimsical, and fantastical stories. What others might toss aside as junk or overlook entirely is given a second life — forming the foundation for tiny worlds brimming with imagination, meticulous attention to detail, and just the right amount of mischief.

While I create a wide variety of tiny worlds, my personal favorite? Breathing new life into horror classics (beloved books and movies) as taxidermy mouse dioramas — the perfect combination of storytelling, miniature art, and a little scream-worthy fun. From conjuring haunted hotels to recreating wonderous adventures, every scene is built from a mix of taxidermy, miniature props, and repurposed “trash” given new life.

Atropos Mediaworks is woman-owned and led by me — a licensed taxidermist, certified project management professional, and US Army Veteran. As a member of the National Taxidermists Association, I combine artistry, technical know-how, and a healthy dose of curiosity to ensure every creation is made with care, precision, and personality.

Each taxidermy piece I create is a tiny world — a little dark, a little playful, entirely one-of-a-kind, and, yes, often built from what the rest of the world might call trash. 

Welcome to the tiny worlds Atropos Mediaworks brings to life, 

one taxidermy mouse at a time.

Because mice are small enough to carry big stories. Their scale invites curiosity. Their expressions feel instantly familiar. Their little bodies lend themselves to character in a way that can be brave, foolish, sinister, or tender. A single mouse can become a hero, a villain, a dreamer, or a monster — depending on the story it’s placed in.

While I make taxidermy mice with a wide range of personalities, the horror genre is my favorite. Horror has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember — from late night VHS movie marathons as a kid to conventions, screenings, and connecting with fellow fans in the horror community. Being part of this community has shaped my imagination, my sense of storytelling, and my love for the delightfully strange. I’ve even been known to argue with a mouse over which horror film best suits its personality. (Spoiler: they always win.)

And then there’s the trash. Oh, the trash. From what others see as garbage to what I see as the perfect prop for a mouse séance, repurposed objects, discarded knickknacks, and forgotten bits of the world around us find new life in my tiny worlds. It’s punk, it’s playful, and it’s oddly satisfying to transform the overlooked into something curious and magical.

Working with mice allows me to dive deep into narrative, detail, and craft. Each piece begins with carefully prepared taxidermy, then evolves through costume, posture, props, and environment until it becomes more than a just a mouse — it becomes a character, with a backstory, and a tiny world you can get lost in.

Visitors to the Atropos Mediaworks booth at events across the country don’t just look at my taxidermy mice — they see themselves in them:

“That one’s me.”
“That one’s you.”
“That one looks like my friend Freddy.”
“Oh, now that one there is definitely Tina.”
 

Collectors return show after show because each mouse feels personal, familiar, and alive with story.

So yes — I taxidermy a lot of mice, and I repurpose a lot of trash. And I make each of my artworks with intention, care, mastery, and pride. And my art brings a lot of happiness to this world out of something that is...well, kind of grim. And I love that.