Update: Due to the coronavirus, The Dark Art Emporium’s physical space in Long Beach is closed. However, their website and artwork are still available for purchase on their website. Their website address is at the end of this article.

Walking into the Dark Art Emporium was like being 17 again and finding your parents dirty stash of magazines under a hidden corner of the bedroom. It felt like I shouldn’t go in. In fact, it felt a little wrong. Something was telling me to stay away, but the other part of my brain knew I might find this enjoyable. I entered and found a new world in Long Beach that’s frightful, good, bad, wrong, and perfect for someone looking for a different kind of site.

If you’re looking for something different, unique, and maybe a bit strange while you’re in Los Angeles, or to be more specific Long Beach California, you definitely need to check out The Dark Art Emporium. It’s an art store. Well, it’s more like a small art museum with work for sale.

As a native of LA, I want to see something different. I like shops and venues that qualify as a little weird that engages my imagination and thirst for wonder. So, naturally, I gravitated toward this store. 

Although I noticed the Dark Art Emporium was having an art show this weekend by sheer coincidence, I knew I had to make it! And, so I went. I’ve passed by this place so many times and never entered. They had plenty of taxidermy and oddities to satisfy my weird and dark tourist side of my brain.

The Dark Art Emporium Art Work

I entered the small shop and automatically felt a small amount of guilt. Would people freak out because I’m in a place that literally showcases dead animals?

Although the feeling of being seventeen came over me again when I saw a small bookshelf of naughty books. Although, these books are not the kind your parents hid from you. However, they’re the kind of books your parents warn you about.

My giddy self felt like a kid in a candy store when I saw the Satanic Bible sitting there waiting for some innocent person to read it. Although I’m only here for entertainment purposes, I felt like this place is something to behold.

This small but great art store has so many great things that will either leave you in awe or freak you out!

Each wall exhibits the best and creepiest art I’ve seen in a while.

To paint a picture for you, you’ll see animal skulls as well as human skulls. The taxidermy is really interesting. They have a goat, sitting comfortably at a corner. However, they also have oddities and weird curiosities. They have different animal skeletons put together to form one unique work of art.

Apart from paintings, they have jars of animal testicles, baby rat skeletons for sale, and even a penis that pays homage to David Bowie in a jar.

The entire place is weird in the best possible way. Although, I had a strange experience trying to take pictures of some of the decorated skeletons. The artwork displayed on the walls all has a spotlight beaming down on them to see them better. However, when I tried to take pictures of them, a dark shadow appeared in my pictures blocking each photo I took. Only a couple of good ones came out. It was very strange. As a believer in the paranormal, I decided it’s an animal ghost trying to get my attention.

Other parts of the Dark Art Emporium are set up so cute. It’s really impressive.

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This weekend’s exhibition is called “Innocent When You Dream” but I recommend this place as a different type of attraction. It’s the kind of place you’ll find in New Orleans and other gothic cities around the globe.

You’ll find otter skulls in jars for sale for that weird friend back home. Although I have to say the prices are not as cheap as I would like. But, if not, they have great shirts and posters for sale, cheaper than any of the art you’ll find.

Next time I got back to the Dark Art Emporium, I’m getting myself a skull in a jar for my home office! It will fit right in with my other decor.

One More Thing

Taxidermy is not animal abuse, it’s a legitimate form of artwork that people display and happily create. No one kills animals to do this, in fact, there are laws that protect animals that require taxidermists to retrieve an animal that is already deceased. You cannot actually kill an animal for taxidermy purposes. Therefore there is no need to worry, no animals are harmed because of this art show.

Let Me Break It Down For You:

Do I recommend this place? Yes, absolutely.

Next time you’re in Long Beach California, make sure to check out the Dark Art Emporium located at 256 Elm Avenue, Long Beach Ca 90802.

There is plenty of dark art, taxidermy, and oddities to buy for that weird and creepy friend of yours.

Their hours are noon-7pm unless they have an art exhibition, then they’re open at night.

Check out their website for details on art shows: https://www.darkartemporium.com.

If you’re visiting the Dark Art Emporium in Long Beach going graffiti hunting in LBC is also a must, and free!

For other fantastic Los Angeles attractions that are off the beaten path, check out this great list of places you must visit in LA.