Entry No. 14 — the Dallas file — filed under: oddities
Pinned Ptera
An ethical insect-taxidermy studio-shop run by Morgan and Micah Loftin, with a neon sign and a goal of building an indoor Victorian-style glass conservatory of pinned butterflies, moths, scorpions and walking sticks — all farm-raised, none wild-caught.
The story
If you drive down Mulberry Street looking for a glowing sign and a retail door, you’ll just end up circling the block. Pinned Ptera doesn't operate a storefront. It’s a home studio run by Morgan and Micah Loftin out of Denton, where the couple transforms farm-raised scorpions, walking sticks, giant moths, and butterflies into glass-encased artwork. Their endgame is to build an indoor Victorian-style glass conservatory packed with pinned specimens, but until that happens, their work surfaces in scattered pockets across the city.
The operation hinges on a strict rule: zero wild-caught specimens. Every creature is ethically sourced from specimen farms, where the insects live out their full natural lifespans before Morgan relaxes, pins, and frames them. The resulting inventory ranges from small glass display pieces and seasonal ornaments to elaborate, one-off framed wall displays that look like they were plucked from a 19th-century naturalist’s study.
What it's like
Because there’s no permanent shop to visit, catching their work in person requires knowing where to look. Your best indoor bet is Kava Culture, a plant-filled tea bar in Denton where a standing display of framed specimens hangs on the wall, browsable whenever the bar is open. On warm Saturday mornings, track down their booth at the seasonal Denton Community Market near the downtown square—every framed piece there is a one-of-a-kind original, so if a particular moth catches your eye, grab it before someone else does. If you want to try your hand at entomological taxidermy, watch for their hands-on pinning workshops at local craft beer spot The Bearded Monk, but reserve your spot early because seats fill up fast.
The move: Pick out a framed butterfly or moth specimen together as a piece of art for a shared wall, or catch them at the Denton Community Market and choose insects as a couple.
📍 Before you go There's no walk-in storefront here: the work lives wherever the Loftins set it, so go where it shows rather than hunting for a shop near Mulberry Street. A standing installation sits inside the coffee-and-tea bar at Kava Culture, browsable whenever that plant bar is open. The easiest weekend catch is the outdoor Denton Community Market, which runs seasonally — think warm months and Saturday mornings — so save it for good weather. Hands-on pinning workshops pop up at The Bearded Monk and tend to book ahead, and market specimens are one-of-a-kind, so a piece you love won't be there twice. The walkable Denton Square nearby pairs naturally afterward.
- 📍 Denton (off Mulberry Street)
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoors
Pair it with
- HereAfter — Pair a market outing with a walk over to Denton's square to visit this two-story oddities shop stocked with bones, plaster casts, and macabre curiosities.
- Curious Garden — Continue the natural-history theme with a trip to this East Dallas wonder cabinet packed with fossils, skulls, and botanical specimens.
- Dolly Python — Head into Dallas proper to browse 3,800 square feet of vintage goods and dedicated booths selling vintage taxidermy and wet specimens.
Good to know
Where can I see Pinned Ptera's specimens in person?
While there is no walk-in retail store, you can view a standing installation inside Kava Culture in Denton or visit their booth at the seasonal Denton Community Market on Saturday mornings.
Are the insects ethically sourced?
Yes. All butterflies, moths, scorpions, and walking sticks are farm-raised and allowed to complete their natural lifespans. None are collected from the wild.
Can I learn how to pin insects myself?
Yes. Morgan Loftin hosts hands-on insect taxidermy workshops at local venues like The Bearded Monk, though tickets usually book out in advance.
What kinds of products do they craft?
Their lineup includes single and multi-specimen framed wall art, glass display domes, insect ornaments, and large custom wall pieces.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: texasmonthly.com · localdenton.com · Official site
last checked: 2026-06-06