Inspired by folk and cultural paleontology, The Theriumian Demons is a trilogy of sonnets written
about three Cenozoic megafauna, Bramatherium, Uintatherium, and Arsinoitherium. Each of them
carries distinct cranial ossicones or horns that appear strikingly demon-like. Similar to how the
Cyclops myth may have begun as an early interpretation of a mammoth skul, this series creates mythic stories that tie together each creature’s prehistoric characteristics with folkloric narratives and human emotion.
A number of cultural symbols and beliefs are included to acknowledge the regions of the world
these animals once inhabited. These references draw from Greek, Hindu, Egyptian, Middle
Eastern, Indigenous American, and African American traditions, along with the Biblical concept of hell and demons. The series explores how perceptions take on different forms across cultures, yet often share underlying themes.

In terms of composition, the sonnets follow a traditional Shakespearean structure minus the
iambic pentameter. The sketches were done traditionaly, then scanned and altered digitaly. The
term “Theriumian” was chosen for its archaic sound and for the shared suffix between the
animals featured in each sonnet.