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Some stories were never finished.
A 12-part fine art series created with authenticated coal recovered from the Titanic wreck itself. Each portrait honors a real soul aboard RMS Titanic, painted in a completely new art genre called artifactism™ where history doesn't just inspire the art. It becomes the art.
"You know that feeling when something intrigues you
so much you become obsessed?"
That's what happened here. What started as a portrait series became something no one had ever done before.
THE EXPERIENCE
Four Pillars of
Souls of the Titanic
I
The Art
Original mixed-media portraits created with authenticated Titanic coal, 1912 paper, 24k gold leaf, and a professional grade acrylic. Each soul rendered in intimate detail.
II
The Artifact
Every portrait contains authentic Titanic coal in the pupils of the eyes and the artist's signature. The artifact becomes the art. This is artifactism™.
III
The Music
Each soul is paired with an original composition by Dirk Strangely, blending era-specific sounds with the emotional story of the soul depicted. A complete soundtrack for history.
IV
The Experience
An annual immersive dinner event recreating Titanic's final First Class meal, with live string quartet performing Wallace Hartley's set list. Once a year. April 14th.
Meet the Souls
Each portrait tells the story of a real person aboard RMS Titanic. Their courage. Their love. Their final moments.
THE PORTRAITS
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Captain Edward John Smith
Age 62 · 1912
Margaret "Molly Brown
Age 44 · 1912
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Ida & Isidor Straus
Ages 63 & 67 · 1912
THE GENRE
A New Art Genre Is Born
artifactism™ (noun)
A contemporary art movement pioneered by Dirk Strangely, in which genuine historical artifacts are physically incorporated into visual artworks, often as pigment or material to create original pieces that blend historical legacy and creative expression.
What if a painting could contain actual history? Not just depict it. Not just reference it. Physically contain it.
RMS Titanic, Inc., the only legal entity authorized to recover and authenticate artifacts from the Titanic wreck site, provided authenticated coal recovered during the 1994 expedition. Every soul in this series looks out at you through paint made from the ship they sailed on.
What if a painting could contain actual history? Not just depict it. Not just reference it. Physically contain it.
RMS Titanic, Inc., the only legal entity authorized to recover and authenticate artifacts from the Titanic wreck site, provided authenticated coal recovered during the 1994 expedition. Every soul in this series looks out at you through paint made from the ship they sailed on.
FIRST ACCESS
EXCLUSIVE · TUESDAY · APRIL 14, 2026
Become a Founding Collector
Before Souls of the Titanic is available anywhere in the world, a small group will have the opportunity to reserve their edition at the 114th Anniversary Dinner on April 14, 2026.
✧ Priority selection of your edition tier before public launch
✧ A personal thank you note from the artist
✧ Your name handwritten by Dirk Strangely inside your edition packaging
✧ First access to future events before public announcement
Founding Collector reservations open exclusively at the April 14, 2026 Anniversary Dinner.
A 50% deposit secures your edition that evening. Balance due upon shipment in August 2026.
Dirk Strangely
THE ARTIST
Dirk Strangely is a mixed-media fine artist and the founder of artifactism, a completely new art genre in which authenticated historical artifacts become the medium of contemporary fine art.
With Souls of the Titanic, Dirk has spent years researching the real people aboard RMS Titanic, sourcing authenticated materials from the wreck site, and creating portraits that exist simultaneously as art and artifact.
"It's hard to explain a vision sometimes. Sometimes you simply have to see it."
"It's hard to explain a vision sometimes. Sometimes you simply have to see it."
Join the Souls of the Titanic community for updates on the series and upcoming events
