This thesis focuses on the ethical issues of the use of animals in art and how these issues arise due to the attitudes towards animals within society. The artworks included in discussion: Adel Abdessemed Don't Trust Me (2008); Guillermo Habacuc Vargas, Exposicion No 1 (2007); Tinkebell, My Dearest Cat Pinkjelte (2004); Damien Hirst, The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (1991); Eduardo Kac, GFP Bunny (2000); Ondrej Brody and Kristofer Paetau, Dog Carpets (2007); and Olly Williams, Suzi Winstanley, and Greg Williams, Shark Bite (1997). Discussion of the artworks will be put into context through comparisons of current animal welfare issues within society, i.e., factory farming, conservation of species, and animal experimentation. The attitudes that have allowed these animal welfare issues to exist in society are the same attitudes that have led to it becoming acceptable to utilize animals as objects by artists.

The four former artists within the above list are examples of artists that push the boundaries of what is considered unethical and the three latter artists are examples of artists that show signs of progress in ethical consideration of the use of animals in art and society. The proposal of regulations and laws to limit the use of animals in art will also be discussed as a potential solution for the unethical treatment of animals in art.