Britt Riggs | Piercer, Artist, Collector and Purveyor of the Odd

We had the good fortune of connecting with Britt Riggs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Britt, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
As an artist, I was looking for an outlet to sell my art and help other artists in my community. I’ve always been interested in more of the macabre and darker sides of art, especially with my photography and the things I create. In addition, I grew up with parents who were obsessive collectors. They have amassed such a variety of collections that it overtook their home and tons of storage space. I needed a way to help my parents sell their antiques in their later years. Naturally, I combined the oddities and weird art with the antiques and other items to come up with Black Moth Menagerie.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art and creative outlet expands across many genres, mediums, outlets, and passions. I have done large performance pieces for large audiences as well as facilitate private showings for select eyes only. Other aspects of my art could include everything from sculpture to taxidermy and stain glass to photography, While my diverse array of art forms varies greatly, there is usually a dark undertone social taboo or some shock factor involved throughout my creations. My goal is to stir the souls and curiosity of my audience. One thing I’m most proud about, is the fact that my art does leave the patron with a different perspective and experience they may have never come across otherwise. Although my art is more extreme in some aspects, it shows the viewer there is beauty in all forms. Currently, I am working on what I refer to as the “Body Perception Project.” Through varies forms, such as life-casting, stain-glass, and photography, I am attempting to bring awareness to body dysmorphia and combat the stereotypes and obtuse standards we and society tend to hold ourselves to. This project uses personalized adult content mixed with humor to portray the beauty of the diverse forms of the human body while raising money for programs and organizations such as Planned Parenthood. The journey to get to where I am today is an odd one. It wasn’t easy nor was it very hard, it just seemed to happen, usually as it should.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Throughout the week I would take a friend to must visit places such as the Museum of Natural Science to see the Butterfly Center to House of Goth to shop through their array of goth attire and art. On a beautiful Houston day a good picnic in Herman Park is a must and maybe even a ride on the train through the zoo. You don’t want to miss Symphonies under the Stars at the amphitheater there. Houston has such a great burlesque scene, so catching a burlesque show with performers from across the country is easy to do. Your weekend in Houston will be booked with Classic Number’s on Friday night, Macabre Market happening every month on Saturday, and back to Number’s on Sunday for the Obscure Houston Oddities Market all day.

Houston is full of great festivals and events that are constantly happening such as the kite festival, zoo days, or any number of vending markets. You can take a drive north to hit the Texas Renaissance Festival. As far as good eats, Houston has a ton of great options such as Champ Burger for one of those late night greasy burger stops, Brennan’s on the Bayou is world renowned for their high class Cajun style cuisine in a high class, fine dining experience. Of course, you can’t forget the favorite food trucks like the Waffle Bus, the Rice Box, or one of the hundreds of taco trucks scattered around the city. You don’t have to go far to find good eats.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to give a shoutout to my mom, who has passed down her love of art and creating through various mediums. And to my father, for giving me the hands on skills I needed in order to successfully pursue my art. And of course, I don’t know where I would be without the immense amount of support from my partner, not only emotionally, but the hands on work that she does for me and for my business. I truly believe that it’s not the individual but the people behind the individual that really make or break most success stories.

Website: www.blackmothonline.com

Instagram: @blackmothmenagerie

Facebook: Black Moth Menagerie

Image Credits
All Photos Credit Britt Riggs