Memento Mori Los Angeles

A Cabinet of Dark Curiosities

Walking into Memento Mori feels like stepping into a Victorian-era wunderkammer where every surface holds something that makes you look twice. The space itself commands attention: vaulting ceilings, rich mahogany trim, and damask wallpaper create an atmosphere somewhere between a chapel and a private collection. Display cases line the walls, filled with taxidermy specimens, articulated skeletons, and shadow boxes containing perfectly preserved butterflies and beetles arranged in geometric patterns.

The shop’s owners, Bradley and Deirdre Hartman, started collecting oddities for their own home before opening the store in 2014. Their personal taste shows in the curation. Nothing feels randomly thrown together or meant purely for shock value. Each piece has been selected for its quality, rarity, or visual appeal. Vintage medical instruments rest in glass cases alongside modern jewelry made from bones and stones. Day of the Dead art brings color to darker corners. Crystals and gems catch the light next to antique photographs.

What You’ll Find

The taxidermy collection includes everything from small birds under glass domes to larger specimens. Insects get special treatment here with professionally mounted displays that highlight their natural beauty rather than just their creepiness. Skulls range from small rodents to larger mammals, many articulated with careful attention to detail. The vintage medical tools section draws particular interest: surgical instruments, anatomical models, and other items from medicine’s stranger past.

For shoppers, prices vary widely. You can find affordable items like candles, small pieces of jewelry, or bumper stickers alongside higher-end taxidermy and antique pieces. The owners make or source many items themselves, which helps keep prices reasonable for a specialty shop. Custom commissions are available if you have something specific in mind.

Classes and Community

What sets Memento Mori apart from other curiosity shops is the educational component. The store regularly offers classes in entomology preservation and taxidermy, taught by the owners and guest instructors. These hands-on sessions teach the actual techniques used to create the pieces you see for sale. You learn about ethical sourcing, preservation methods, and display techniques. The classes attract artists, collectors, and people simply curious about the craft.

The shop has become a hub for LA’s oddities community. As sponsors of the Oddities Flea Market, the Hartmans help support other dealers and makers in the scene. Regular customers stop by not just to shop but to talk with knowledgeable staff about new acquisitions or preservation techniques.

Visiting Experience

The shop runs on a browsing-friendly schedule: open Thursday through Tuesday from noon to 6pm, closed Wednesdays. Walk-ins are welcome, and the staff is happy to answer questions about items or the preservation process. The space is wheelchair accessible and pet-friendly. Plan to spend 30 minutes to an hour if you want to really examine everything.

Street parking in Hollywood can be challenging during busy times, so arrive with a few extra minutes to find a spot. The location on Wilcox Avenue puts you just off Sunset Boulevard in the heart of Hollywood, close to other attractions if you’re making a day of exploring the neighborhood.

Memento Mori works best when you come with an open mind about what can be beautiful. The shop celebrates natural history, craftsmanship, and the artistic possibilities in objects most people avoid. Whether you’re shopping for a truly unique gift, building your own collection, or just want to see something different, the experience offers a memorable perspective on mortality, nature, and art.