“Unorthodox taxidermy” sculpture by Theodor Geisel a.k.a. Dr. Seuss (Photos courtesy of Pop International Galleries)

By Sabina Mollot

Get ready for Dr. Seuss’s dark side.

Pop International Galleries, an art gallery owned by a Stuyvesant Town couple, will be holding an exhibition featuring taxidermy-esque sculptures and prints of oil paintings that were made by the artist best known for his whimsical children’s books.

But when Dr. Seuss wasn’t illustrating and writing books like The Cat in the Hat and Hop on Pop, he was working on paintings he referred to as his “secret art” or “midnight art” and the sculptures, which he called his “unorthodox taxidermy,” were a passion of his, early in his career.

This is actually the second time Pop International is showcasing the works of the late Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel. However, unlike the previous show last year, this exhibition features mostly the little-known works. Last time, it was also a mix of sculptures and prints, but there were more prints, limited edition that is, of the more popular book illustrations.

“It’s more about the midnight art (this time),” said Jeff Jaffe, who owns the gallery with wife Nanette Ross. “The stuff he was doing after hours — it was political, a little darker and a little more naughty on some levels.”

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