There is nothing more certain in life than death. And while many people don’t like to think about their inevitable end, it’s bound to happen at some point. There are many ways to remember and honor the dead. Nowadays, people can have jewelry made from their loved one’sashes, and they might have planted a tree for them or perhaps set up a foundation in their name.
There’s an Instagram account that’s dedicated to headstone portraits.Posthumous Portraitshas a wall of intriguing, mysterious, haunting, sad, and sometimes macabre content. And it doesn’t only feature people. There are pet portraits, too. Each image tells a unique story of a life that is no longer.Bored Pandahas put together our top picks that might inspire you to think a little deeper about how you’d like to be remembered one day. We also managed to secure an interview with the creative brains behind the page.Allyson Pettigrewis a photographer and a self-confessed cemetery a****t.
This post may includeaffiliate links.
The person behind the Posthumous Portraits IG account is just a little obsessed with things that others might find creepy or scary.Allyson Pettigrewspends more time in cemeteries than most people. The self-confessed taphophile loves photographing tombstones, cemetaries, abandoned buildings, and strange and macabreart. She’s described herself as a horror aficionado, a runner, and a social worker.
RELATED:
Pettigrew says that finding ceramic portraits quickly became one of her favorite parts of visiting a cemetery, which has developed into a lifelong passion. “Through my Posthumous Portraits page, I am able to share portraits from all over the world that fellow taphophiles have found,” she revealed.
For those who aren’t familiar, Pettigrew says ceramic headstone portraits became popular in theUnited Statesin the mid-to-late 19th century. “The method of creating the portraits was not expensive, so they became an affordable way to memorialize a loved one in a unique, personalized manner,” the expert told Bored Panda.“The ceramic portraits could not only display their loved one’s visage, but also portray their style, interests, and personality. It is eerie and powerful to wander through a cemetery and see the faces of the dead looking back at you. It is a tangible link to thehistoryof the cemetery and who is buried there, and provides so much more insight as to who is buried there than just a name carved into a headstone.”
For those who aren’t familiar, Pettigrew says ceramic headstone portraits became popular in theUnited Statesin the mid-to-late 19th century. “The method of creating the portraits was not expensive, so they became an affordable way to memorialize a loved one in a unique, personalized manner,” the expert told Bored Panda.
“The ceramic portraits could not only display their loved one’s visage, but also portray their style, interests, and personality. It is eerie and powerful to wander through a cemetery and see the faces of the dead looking back at you. It is a tangible link to thehistoryof the cemetery and who is buried there, and provides so much more insight as to who is buried there than just a name carved into a headstone.”
We’re curious to know what drives this creative and how she carries out her work. “My creative process is simple: I have a natural eye for photography, and I take pictures of anything that strikes me,” she revealed.“My artistic ability did not make itself known until I was 35, so I have never received any formal guidance or training. I simply photograph material I am drawn to, mainly cemeteries, and then share my pictures with everyone in hopes they will find the same appreciation for the historical beauty in them that I do.”
We’re curious to know what drives this creative and how she carries out her work. “My creative process is simple: I have a natural eye for photography, and I take pictures of anything that strikes me,” she revealed.
“My artistic ability did not make itself known until I was 35, so I have never received any formal guidance or training. I simply photograph material I am drawn to, mainly cemeteries, and then share my pictures with everyone in hopes they will find the same appreciation for the historical beauty in them that I do.”
Pettigrew tells us she finds inspiration in quiet, dark beauty, which isn’t any surprise. “To me, cemeteries are full of inspiring sights: a shadow half concealing a stone angel’s face; trees with long, gnarled branches that hang over the graves; and, of course, the ceramic portraits that adorn the headstones,” says the photographer.
“I was inspired to create Posthumous Portraits shortly after I began sharing my ceramic portrait finds in Philadelphia withothertaphophiles on Instagram,” revealed the page’s founder.
“I began to notice other people posting ceramic portraits from various parts of the world and was equally fascinated with them. I created Posthumous Portraits as a space to share these lost souls with everyone, and to show everyone the faces of the past.”
We wanted to know more about the person behind the page. “I am a social worker living in Philadelphia, PA,” she tells us. “My love for the Victorian-era cemeteries in the area is what inspired me to become a photographer and share my vision with everyone. I started to connect with the people residing in these cemeteries and thehistorysurrounding them. I strive to bring awareness to the value and beauty of these sacred places.”
But Pettigrew doesn’t spend every waking moment in graveyards. “When I am not taking pictures in cemeteries, I can be found enjoyinghorror moviesor British comedies,” she tells us. “I love to go see live music with my husband on the weekends, and also spend time hiking with my dog in the woods. I am currently writing a book on thehistoryand significance of Laurel Hill East and Laurel Hill West cemeteries in Philadelphia, which will be published in early 2026.“And we, for sure, will be on the lookout for that!
But Pettigrew doesn’t spend every waking moment in graveyards. “When I am not taking pictures in cemeteries, I can be found enjoyinghorror moviesor British comedies,” she tells us. “I love to go see live music with my husband on the weekends, and also spend time hiking with my dog in the woods. I am currently writing a book on thehistoryand significance of Laurel Hill East and Laurel Hill West cemeteries in Philadelphia, which will be published in early 2026.”
And we, for sure, will be on the lookout for that!
See Also on Bored Panda
Note: this post originally had80images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
Modal closeAdd New ImageModal closeAdd Your Photo To This ListPlease use high-res photos without watermarksOoops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.Not your original work?Add sourcePublish
Modal close
Add New ImageModal closeAdd Your Photo To This ListPlease use high-res photos without watermarksOoops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.Not your original work?Add sourcePublish
Modal closeAdd Your Photo To This ListPlease use high-res photos without watermarksOoops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.Not your original work?Add sourcePublish
Add Your Photo To This ListPlease use high-res photos without watermarksOoops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
Add Your Photo To This List
Please use high-res photos without watermarks
Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
Not your original work?Add source
Modal closeModal closeOoops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.UploadUploadError occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermarkInstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermarkFacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermarkChangeSourceTitleUpdateAdd Image
Modal closeOoops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.UploadUploadError occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermarkInstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermarkFacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermarkChangeSourceTitleUpdateAdd Image
Upload
UploadError occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermarkInstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermarkFacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermark
Error occurred when generating embed. Please check link and try again.
TwitterRender conversationUse html versionGenerate not embedded versionAdd watermark
InstagramShow Image OnlyHide CaptionCropAdd watermark
FacebookShow Image OnlyAdd watermark
ChangeSourceTitle
You May Like30 Of The Sweetest Then-And-Now Photos That Prove Some Bonds Only Grow Stronger With Time (New Pics)Evelina Šiukšterytė45 Disturbing Photos That Look Normal Until You Find Out What’s Really Going OnEglė Bliabaitė“I Worked In Disney Parks For 8 Years”: Former Magic Kingdom Employee Shares 29 Facts About ItMonika Pašukonytė
Evelina Šiukšterytė
Eglė Bliabaitė
Monika Pašukonytė
Curiosities