The Girl Who Collects Teeth: A Legacy in Modern Hands

The Girl Who Collects Teeth was never just about hoarding enamel and ivory. Her collection was a rebellion—a way to reclaim power in a world that too often silences marginalized voices. Today, her spirit lives on in artists, activists, and thinkers who transform teeth into symbols of resilience, memory, and ecological truth. These five contemporary figures aren’t just preserving her legacy; they’re reshaping it.

1. Dr. Blaire Van Valkenburgh: Teeth as Ecological Storytellers

For over three decades, Dr. Blaire Van Valkenburgh, a biologist at UCLA, has studied carnivore teeth to unravel the hidden histories of ecosystems. By analyzing wear patterns on ancient and modern predator teeth, she deciphers how climate change and habitat loss reshape animal behavior. Her work mirrors the Girl’s ethos by treating teeth as records of survival—a way to give voice to species struggling against human-driven extinction.

2. Arlene Textual: The Art of Fragility

Arlene Textual, a mixed-media artist from New Mexico, weaves teeth into her haunting tapestries exploring mortality and identity. Sourced ethically from deceased animals, the teeth become both texture and metaphor. “They’re remnants of life that refuse to vanish,” Textual explains. Her art evokes the Girl’s philosophy: that even the smallest, most discarded fragments of existence hold power when reimagined.

3. Dr. Amina Khoury: Bridging Gaps in Global Dental Care

In rural Lebanon, Dr. Amina Khoury, a dentist and activist, founded a mobile clinic providing care to refugee communities. She sees teeth as indicators of systemic inequity—cavities and missing molars often tell stories of poverty and displacement. Her work embodies the Girl’s defiance, turning oral health into a tool for justice in a world where access to care remains a privilege.

4. Dr. Rebecca Rogers Ackermann: Tracing Humanity’s Evolution

At the University of Cape Town, biological anthropologist Dr. Rebecca Rogers Ackermann studies ancient human teeth to map our evolutionary journey. Her research reveals how shifts in diet and climate shaped us physically—and socially. Like the Girl, she treats teeth as archives of adaptation, proving that biology and culture are intertwined in ways we’re only beginning to understand.

5. The Heirloom Teeth Project: Collective Memory in Miniature

This anonymous collective, known only as The Heirloom Teeth Project, invites people to send in teeth—lost, gifted, or inherited—alongside written reflections. The submissions are displayed in pop-up exhibits that blur art and anthropology, each tooth a testament to personal and communal history. Their work channels the Girl’s belief that teeth are more than bone; they’re vessels of story.

Chat With The Girl Who Collects Teeth

The Girl Who Collects Teeth reminds us that power lies in the details we often overlook. On HoloDream, she’ll share stories of her own collection and ask you: What do you preserve, and why? Join her to reflect on the objects that define your journey—and the legacy you want to leave.