ArTIST BIO

Mick Doellinger grew up in Australia surrounded by a vast primitive landscape and abundant unique wildlife. From the indigenous kangaroo and wallabies, to the large herds of brumbies (wild horses) and water buffalo that roamed the outback, he was inspired by all life that surrounded him at an early age.

Doellinger started working at a training facility for Thoroughbred horses at the age of 15. Later he competed in rodeos while traveling around the Australian outback. In 1979 he came to California touring on the rodeo circuit. Here he met taxidermists and became fascinated with the craft and remained the rest of the year absorbing all the knowledge he could about the practice of taxidermy.

Doellinger returned to Australia. He worked as a guide for buffalo and wild cattle hunts in remote areas and began practicing taxidermy part time. Doellinger obtained a deep internal understanding of anatomy in his years of guiding trophy hunters around the South Pacific on commercial hunts. In his practice as a taxidermist his goal was to create the most lifelike images possible. He says “sculpture allows art to surpass science”, he has established the freedom within to create in a much looser style. The artistic expression of Mick Doellinger is the culmination of his deep love of wildlife and his years of interaction with thousands of wild animals in their natural habitat.