Our Story

Our journey began in 2018 when we hosted our first-ever event, "Bug Out Chicago", at the Ars Memoria Arts Gallery. The event was a huge success, attracting over 1500 guests who were able to tour our exhibit for free. Since then, we have been on a mission to promote the ethical treatment of insects by touring schools, park districts, and youth organizations. We firmly believe that insects play a crucial role in our ecosystem, and it's our responsibility to educate the younger generation about their significance.

The Insect Asylum today is a museum and community center in Avondale, Chicago, that displays a collection of over 4,500 insects and a variety of taxidermy. The founder of the museum, Nina Salem, grew up in a small Massachusetts town where she collected rocks, bones, and feathers and rescued animals and wildlife, eventually taking up taxidermy. For many years, our founder, Nina, had to hide her passion for fear of being cast as an "oddball," but now she continues to inspire others to embrace their passions through the museum. The museum has educational classes and arts events for both kids and adults, and regular events that incorporate nature and art.

Since opening its doors on earth day (April 22nd, 2022) for its first permanent location, The Insect Asylum has served over 20,000 customers. It's been almost 2 years since the inception of our museum, and we are proud to have accomplished so much in such a short period. We have been overwhelmed by the support and encouragement we have received so far, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share our passion for insects with others. We look forward to continuing our journey with you and making a positive impact in our community.

Meet our Team

Our close-knit team of naturalists, educators and artists are dedicated to unveiling the wonders within in our museum walls. With a shared passion for biodiversity, we've curated a vibrant exhibit that showcase some of the rich tapestry of flora and fauna from around the world. From interactive events for kids, to fun and educational classes, our team is committed to fostering a profound connection with the natural world.

Founder & Artist

Nina Salem

As our founder, Nina has created a space for art, learning and acceptance to flourish. Her wish to create a space that celebrates animal science and mourtuary arts has allowed for The Insect Asylum to become what it is today! When she's not taking care of business, you can find her creating her own beautiful mortuary art pieces.

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Museum Manager

Tex Watson

Tex wears multiple hats and has helped update our space, from installing our new shelves in the gift shop to helping build our classroom space. Aside from keeping things running smoothly, as a fellow insect pinning enthusiast, Tex also creates decorated terrariums of insects to show off his pinning skills.

Office Manager

Ash Marie

As a multi dimensional artist who specializes in organic materials as her medium, Ash has been making creative works and taxidermy inspired art since she was 8 years old. As a self taught artist, the lack of structure allowed her to expand her boundaries beyond traditional taxidermy and to discover her unique style. Today she teaches her incredible skills to anyone who may have found passion in post mortuary arts, painting, and carving of bone, stone and wood.

Event Manager & Outreach

Domingo Papalotl

Domingo is a resident teaching artist & taxidermy mentee. Starting off as student at The Insect Asylum, they now teach the classes themselves. Domingo is very passionate about sharing the skills that they learned with others who are curious about the ways we can engage with the intersection of natural history and art making.

Volunteer Coordinator

Autumn (Audi Gaudi) Godwin

As Volunteer Coordinator, Audi ensures interdepartmental communication and coordination in an effort to support the various goals of the museum. Look to them as a facilitator in accessing support for your hands on learning!

Social Media Celebrity

Sweet Baby Hazel

Hazel is our resident star, and due to her social media presence, many people come from all over just to gaze upon her beauty. Hazel is passionate about her impact on community outreach and education. She loves pets, cuddles, and a nice, soft places to hide.

Information Technology Specialist

Danielle Cartagenes

Danni came on as a nature enthusiast, interested in using her computer science knowledge towards a greater cause. After learning about The Insect Asylum, she volunteered to learn more about the world of insects, becoming an amateur pinner herself. Danni assists with all things tech where she can, while continuing to broaden her knowledge in the areas of nature, education and art.