Skeleton Cardboard

Bio

Skeleton Cardboard (aka “Skel”) is an anonymous street artist based in Hackney whose work first appeared across the walls of Shoreditch. He became known for his expressive cardboard cutouts and spray-painted skeletons, which are playful yet pointed, mixing humour with a sharp critique of modern life.

Inspired by a trip to Mexico and the bold, festive imagery of Día de los Muertos, Skel began crafting his trademark skeletal figures in simple, accessible materials, relying on spontaneity rather than polished technique. His style combines a naïve, almost childlike charm with tight, sophisticated design. Skulls, abbreviations and symbols collide to comment on consumerism, the mundanity of daily existence and the strange beauty that emerges from urban chaos.

What makes his work distinctive is the way he merges dark themes of morality and mortality with wit and a sense of play. His art feels inclusive, sparking smiles from children who see dancing skeletons while also giving adults pause with tongue in cheek commentary on everyday life.

Well Hung Gallery was the first to exhibit Skeleton Cardboard’s work, and since then he has gone on to gain recognition on an international stage, showing in respected institutions such as the Saatchi Gallery among others. Despite this wider acclaim, his work has retained the raw, unscripted energy that first caught the public’s attention on the streets of East London.