Writing
Erick DuPree’ explores the intersections of culture, identity, and meaning through the lens of anthropology, literature, and material culture. From the hidden histories of dolls to the evolving myths of masculinity, queer identity, and ritual, Erick weaves scholarship and storytelling into thought-provoking essays that invite readers to see the world—and themselves—anew.
The Golden Age of Artist Dolls
Discover the golden age of artist dolls from 1980–2000—a vibrant era when sculptors like Nancy Wiley and Lisa Lichtenfels redefined dolls as fine art. Explore how new materials, celebrity collectors, and galleries like CFM fueled a movement that still inspires today.
The Art Doll Movement: From Counterculture to Collectible Treasure
Discover the rise, fall, and revival of the Art Doll Movement—from its 1970s origins to today's niche renaissance. Explore one-of-a-kind dolls as sculpture, identity, and storytelling, featuring icons like McKinley, Wiley, Bychkova, and celebrity collectors like Demi Moore.
Fading Figures: Understanding the Decline in Artist-Made Art Doll Value
Explore the decline in value of artist-made art dolls, the difference between worth and value, and how memory shapes collecting. Why dolls once sold for thousands now struggle in today’s market—and how cultural amnesia plays a role.
Little Ladies, Big Lessons: Victorian Fashion Dolls as Instruments of Gender Socialization
Little Ladies: Victorian Fashion Dolls and the Feminine Ideal explores how 19th-century dolls served as tools of gender training and socialization. Beneath the silks and lace lies a powerful story of class, empire, and the making of the “proper” woman—stitched in miniature.
Haunted Beauty: The Art and Legacy of Monika Mechling
A tribute to retired doll artist Monika Mechling, whose haunting porcelain figures captured beauty, longing, and feminine complexity. Through personal reflection and artist interviews, this piece explores her legacy and the emotional power of dolls as sculptural art.