artists

every piece has a story, and every story begins with an artist

WHANGANUI, NEW ZEALAND · TAXIDERMY & WIREWORK ARTIST

Debbie Biggar

Debbie Biggar is a Whanganui-based contemporary artist who combines taxidermy and wirework to explore beauty, mortality and our connection with the natural world. Her carefully crafted pieces hold a strong sense of story, inviting curiosity and encouraging viewers to look more closely.

about

Debbie Biggar creates distinctive artworks that bring together taxidermy, wirework and imaginative storytelling.

Her practice explores the relationship between beauty and mortality. By preserving and presenting natural specimens in unexpected ways, Debbie invites viewers to consider the lives these creatures once held and our own connection with nature.

Each piece is carefully constructed and carries its own character. Familiar creatures are transformed into intriguing works that sit somewhere between the beautiful, the unusual and the quietly mysterious.

Childhood memories also inspire Debbie’s whimsical dollhouses. These miniature environments become stages for her taxidermied specimens, creating curious scenes that encourage viewers to imagine the stories unfolding within them.

Debbie has exhibited at Rayner Brothers Gallery and during Whanganui Artists Open Studios. Her work has also appeared in 20 Up at Rayner Brothers Gallery, Show Us Your Brooch at Katie Brown Glass and Strange Relationships at Utopia Studio Gallery.

Through craftsmanship, humour and an appreciation for the unexpected, Debbie creates work that sparks curiosity and gives new presence to the natural world.

Because sometimes the most unusual finds hold the most compelling stories.

in the rooms

finds

finds
The illusion of freedom
The illusion of freedom
$290.00

Debbie Biggar

Vintage lace and sparkling jewellery dress a small rabbit whose raised paws are tethered to a wooden puppet frame.

In The illusion of freedom, Debbie Biggar presents a taxidermy rabbit adorned with dusky pink lace and a jewelled brooch. Fine chains connect its forelegs to the frame above, while a native wood base anchors the arrangement.

The puppet-like figure explores how those in power can pull the strings of choice and consent, shaping lives while presenting control as liberty. Its delicate clothing and gentle expression lend an unsettling tenderness to this reflection on freedom.

This piece would bring character and conversation to a console, display cabinet or study, inviting viewers to look beyond its decorative details.

Delicate · Unsettling · Thought-provoking
Taxidermy rabbit with vintage lace and jewellery, native wood base and puppet frame
45 cm high × 31 cm wide × 26 cm across

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Brutus
Brutus
$455.00

Debbie Biggar

Soft white plumage, a tousled crest and vivid blue accents give this Silkie rooster a striking presence.

In Brutus, Debbie Biggar presents a taxidermy white Silkie rooster mounted on a native wood base. Fine, flowing feathers soften his upright silhouette, while his deep red comb and wattles contrast with the bright blue details beside his face.

The piece reflects Debbie’s interest in beauty, mortality and our connection with nature. Preserved in an alert stance, Brutus invites a closer appreciation of the bird’s distinctive textures and individual character.

This piece would bring an unexpected focal point to a console, display cabinet or study, pairing soft natural texture with the warmth of timber.

Characterful · Textural · Distinctive
Taxidermy Silkie rooster mounted on a native wood base
35 cm high × 34 cm wide × 18 cm across

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Jewels Within
Jewels Within
$247.00

Debbie Biggar

A tiny chandelier glows above a finch resting among jewels beneath a glass dome.

In Jewels Within, a taxidermy finch lies on a dark velvet pillow, surrounded by sparkling jewels and a fine golden chain. Suspended above, a miniature chandelier brings warmth and theatrical detail to this intimate scene.

The work offers a gentle reminder that each of us possesses unique gifts—the innate talents and qualities that make us ourselves. Combining natural forms with carefully arranged decorative objects, Debbie explores beauty and mortality through a miniature world rich in storytelling.

This piece would bring curiosity and quiet drama to a display cabinet, console or study, inviting a closer look at its delicate details.

Intimate · Intriguing · Theatrical
Taxidermy finch, jewels, velvet pillow and miniature chandelier beneath a glass dome
26 cm high × 17 cm wide

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Kintsugi Bijin — Gilded beauty
Kintsugi Bijin — Gilded beauty
$450.00

Debbie Biggar

A pigeon in an ornate geisha headpiece stands beside pale ceramics traced with golden seams.

In Kintsugi Bijin — Gilded beauty, Debbie Biggar brings together a taxidermy pigeon, a Japanese teapot and cup on a dark wooden base. Pale blue flowers, a golden bow and trailing green and gold cords adorn the bird, contrasting with its grey feathers and the delicate patterns of the ceramics.

The work honours repair, resilience and fragile grace. The visible kintsugi seams become part of the ceramics’ beauty, drawing attention to their history. Together with the adorned pigeon, they create an unexpected assemblage that reflects Debbie’s interest in beauty, mortality and storytelling.

This small sculpture would bring curiosity and intricate detail to a display cabinet, console table or study, where it can be appreciated from different angles.

Intriguing · Delicate · Expressive
Taxidermy pigeon with decorative geisha headpiece, kintsugi Japanese teapot and cup on a wooden base
29 cm long × 25 cm high × 24 cm wide

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