Top 10 Macabre Instagram Pages to Follow

When I joined Instagram, most of the initial accounts I followed, besides family and friends, embodied a dark aesthetic, from art to fashion to music and travel. The fact that Instagram is all about the pictures makes it an awesome platform for creative people to show off their work, and not just professional photographers. For those that have an appreciation for the strange and unusual, or are just plain curious about it, these are my top 10 picks of the best macabre individuals and brands to follow on Instagram.

I present them in order of their spooky shock factor, so if you’re curious enough, read until the end.

@Ghostwatchparanormal

If you’re into ghost hunting shows and the paranormal, then give these guys a follow! Based in Los Angeles, California, the team consists of co-founders Paul Roberts and Kevin Otte, and fellow investigator Olivia Pipala. Each have been led to ghost hunting because of their own subjective experiences and interests in what lies beyond the land of the living. Some of the places they’ve visited include The Mystic Museum in Burbank, California, Yuma Territorial Prison in Yuma, Arizona, and the Warren Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut. Check out their YouTube channel Ghost Watch Paranormal for footage from their investigations. Follow here.

@Catacombculture

The handle says it all with this Instagram account. Artist Jeremy Ciliberto is the man behind Catacomb Culture. His fascination with the portrayal of death during the Middle Ages inspires his work. In the manifesto on his official website he states, “It is during the dismal times of mass deaths when individual burials are unachievable, mass graves and catacombs are the only option.” Photos of human skulls and skeletons fill his page and his designs even have a bit of humor. Some of Ciliberto’s creations include “Lamp of the Baron,” “Human Skull Bowl” and “August Mirror.” His work is available for purchase and is wonderful for those who adore dark home décor. Follow here.

@Macabrenoir

This individual is half of the creepy duo Morose and Macabre who hail from Pennsylvania. A painter and co-owner of the oddities shop The Weeping Glass in Pittsburgh, she posts pics of her work as well as of the peculiar items that stock her store. Her Instagram feed is lovely to go through as the images exude a sense of mystery. You’ll find photos that are beautifully bizarre, from eerie doll heads to spellbinding artwork to fallen teeth. She and her partner also host the annual event Atrocity Exhibition that brings together fellow dark souls for a night of ghastly entertainment and revelry. Follow here.

@Deadmaidens

Note: I recently discovered that the Deadmaidens Instagram page is no longer active. I don’t know if this is temporary or permanent. I still wanted to include the ladies behind this account on the list, so below I provide links to their individual Instagram profiles and website.

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This is the Instagram account for the blog Death & the Maiden operated by Lucy Coleman Talbot and Sarah Chavez. Both women have an avid interest in the relationship between death and society. They seek to portray mortality in a way that is approachable and candid through multiple channels, such as art, literature, science, history and current events. People may find their mission unpleasant and discomforting, but the ultimate message is that we should confront the topic of death instead of shunning it. I suggest following the pair’s personal Instagram profiles for more insight on their individual projects. Follow Lucy Coleman Talbot and Sarah Chavez. Plus, read more on the Dead Maidens official website.

@Kylehuculakmkfx

Kyle Huculak is an FX makeup artist whose work consists of gory monsters and nightmarish creatures. You’ll find awesome recreations of slasher film villains such as Freddy Kreuger, Michael Meyers and Jason. He’s done work for shows like “Altered Carbon” and the film “Star Trek: Beyond.” If you’re a horror fan and not repulsed easily by blood, guts and carnage, then happy scrolling through this Instagram feed! Follow here.

@Nandrysha

Nandrysha is a visual artist residing in Bogotá, Colombia. When I discovered her Instagram page, I was completely drawn into the morbidity of her work. She is fascinated by human imperfection and distortion. Her digital art depicts figures with mutated features. She also has a photography series featuring women wearing grotesque masks. Her creations challenge the notion of what defines beauty. Some may find what they see disturbing or repulsive, but that’s the point. It’s a wake-up call to face the flaws within us all. Follow here.

@Sigridsarda

If you’ve looked through Nandrysha’s Instagram photos, then that’s a good segue to this next artist who shares a similar aesthetic. Sigrid Sarda’s works are crafted from wax, which she has said she prefers because of its fleshy quality. This is definitely apparent in the snapshots she posts. Images of body parts and faces with blank stares fill the page. What can be unsettling is how lifelike her creations appear. One of her waxwork series depicts the five stages of grief and features figures such as a violated Sleeping Beauty and drowned Ophelia. Follow here.

@Mothmeister

The anonymous twosome behind Mothmeister are artists based in Antwerp, Belgium. Their fascination with taxidermy and fairy tales manifests in the photo shoots they have out in desolate, secluded places. Masked, unearthly creatures garbed in fanciful costumes pose with stuffed, deceased animals that appear more alive than the beings holding them.  It is all part of the artists’ manifesto that pays homage to the dead and highlights the beauty of the bizarre. Prints and postcards of their photos are available for purchase on their Etsy shop. The duo also released a book titled “Weird and Wonderful Post-Mortem Fairy Tales.” It’s filled with portraits, plus offers insight into the individuals behind Mothmeister. Follow here.

@Covenofashes

If you read my blog post about the MM Fabrications Let the Devil In collection, then this group’s name may ring a bell. The all-female group practices ritual performance art that includes blood-letting and body suspension. I had the fortune of seeing these ladies in action when they performed for MM Fabrications and at the Witch Walk in Santa Ana and what they do left me in awe. The images they post on Instagram may be offensive or contain sensitive material for some, but there is no denying that what these women are creating is absolute magick, or rather—to use the Coven’s signature hashtag—#cuntmagick. Follow here.

@Mrs_Angemi

Take heed: You will need to have a strong stomach to view this woman’s Instagram account! Her bio states that she is a wife and mother, oh, and a body dissector. As a pathologist, Nicole Angemi really does see dead people. With more than one million followers, she’s a bit of a social media celebrity. Among the collection of images she’s posted are miscarried fetuses, the moldy carcass of an exhumed man, severed limbs and bloody, slippery organs of all kinds. It’s the ultimate gore fest. There is much controversy surrounding her photos as there are people who feel what she does is disrespectful to the deceased. Angemi though stands by what she puts out on social media and contends that she does so to educate the masses on human anatomy. If you take the time to read her captions, they do carry interesting tidbits of information about her work. The question is how graphically you want to be educated. Follow here.

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I’m so happy you all made it to the finale! This is of course by no means an exhaustive list of the best macabre Instagram pages out there. I know there are plenty I have yet to discover. I wanted to share ones that I appreciate and find eye-opening. I hope that I was able to turn some of you on to these people, or at least introduce a different lens through which to view the world. I would love to hear feedback so please leave comments, thoughts, opinions. And please, if you know of any odd and macabre social media profiles worth stalking, do share!