# Decapitated Molting Sculptures The Rachel Niffenegger 'Heads on Poles' Series is Dark By Josh Triantafilou | Published 2012-03-24 | Unique Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rachel-niffenegger References: [sweet-station](http://sweet-station.com/blog/2012/03/rachel-niffenegger/) & [rachelniffenegger](http://rachelniffenegger.com/work/) Artist Rachel Niffenegger recently created a [series of sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/folded-echoes) titled 'Heads on Poles.' Her use of materials as disparate as polystyrene, spraypaint, sawdust, ash, hair, and plaster demonstrate the artist's resourcefulness and creativity. Her works convey a tangible sense of decay. Indeed, many of the pieces look like something you might find on the side of the road; they certainly are not pretty. Of course, art does not need to be pretty. Many would agree that as long as a work is able to convey some expression of its author and produce an effect within its viewer, it is legitimate. If that is the case, Rachel Niffenegger is definitely an artist. The dour, seemingly [rotting textures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/light-into-darkness) she overlays on twisted, ruined shapes betray the fact that her works were never alive to begin with. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.9/10 - Popularity: 75% | Activity: 34% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique) > [Bizarre](https://www.trendhunter.com/bizarre) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Mixed-media Sculptures:** Opportunity for artists to combine diverse materials in their sculptures, pushing boundaries of creativity and expression. - **Decay Aesthetic:** Chance for designers to explore unconventional textures and forms that convey a sense of decay and evoke emotional responses. - **Alternative Artistry:** Potential for artists to embrace unconventional materials and techniques, challenging traditional notions of beauty and craftsmanship. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Art & Sculpture:** Innovation opportunities for artists, galleries, and collectors to embrace new forms of expression and challenge traditional artistic conventions. - **Interior Design:** Opportunity for interior designers and decorators to incorporate unique, textured sculptures into spaces, creating visually striking and provocative environments. - **Craft Supplies:** Potential for manufacturers and retailers of art supplies to adapt and expand their product offerings to cater to the growing demand for diverse materials and unconventional techniques in sculpture. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Digital Archetype Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/christian-rex-van-minnen-1.md) - [Human Hair-Made Pots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/range-of-pots.md) - [Human Embraced-Inspired Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wallmounted-sculpture.md) - [Human Torso-Inspired Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lene-bdker.md) - [Upcycled Sculptural Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eps-expanded-polystyrene-serie.md) - [Vibrantly Colorful Dynamic Artwork](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kayla-rumpp.md) - [Otherworldly Wooden Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wooden-sculptures-1.md) - [Broken-Aesthetic Sculpture Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brokenaesthetic-sculpture-collection.md) - [Sculptural Knitted Objects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sculptural-knitted-objects.md)