Pop culture can play a meaningful role in our lives, so it’s only natural that people want to remember them forever with a tattoo. Luckily, an artist known simply as Kozo is creating body art that is striking in its faithful recreations of beloved movies, television shows, and beyond.
Although Kozo is happy to tattoo a portrait of Wall-E, his most memorable pieces are fusions of multiple subjects and characters. Some of his wildly popular designs feature The Simpsons recreating The Beatles’ iconic Abbey Road album cover, and Batman’s two Jokers (Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix) standing side by side. And in a truly epic tattoo on a client’s arm, Kozo reimagined Da Vinci’s The Last Supper with characters including Spongebob Squarepants, Deadpool, and Albert Einstein at the table. The results are tongue-in-cheek designs that art lovers and pop culture enthusiasts will both enjoy.
While much of Kozo’s portfolio focuses on media, he also has a robust love of fine art. But similar to his pop culture mashups, art history is recreated with a twist. Mona Lisa, for example, is melting and Van Gogh’s Self Portrait is now a combination of his well-known Starry Night and Almond Blossom paintings. Quirky and clever, the tattoos are fun for everyone from the loyal TV watcher to the dedicated cinephile to the most seasoned art historian.
Scroll down to see more from Kozo, and then follow him on Instagram to see what he’s working on next.
Tattooist Kozo creates pop culture-inspired tattoos.
In addition to designs influenced by books and films, he also creates art history tattoos—often with a twist.
Kozo: Instagram
My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Kozo.
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