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Getting a tattoo of a famous work of art seems like a good idea, but so many tats of iconic paintings across history would leave the original artists rolling in their graves. At the same time, when they're done well, they give the source works a run for their money. From Michelangelo to Shepard Fairey, our list of 20 Awesome Tattoos of Famous Works of Art are tasteful ink jobs that pay homage to artistic masterpieces.
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20. Marcel Duchamp, Fountain
Marcel Duchamp's Fountain is the ultimate Dadaist work of art, and we respect anyone willing to get a tattoo of a urinal on themselves...
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19. Roy Lichtenstein, As I Opened Fire
While we imagine that Lichtenstein's comic-book aesthetic is the source for many tattoos, his iconic airplane imagery makes an attractive and original choice.
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18. Aubrey Beardsley, The Peacock
Beardsley's elaborate work The Peacock makes for an excellent tattoo, and this one looks almost like an exact replica.
17. René Magritte, Ceci N'est Pas Une Pipe
Magritte's famous Ceci N'est Pas Une Pipe ("This Is Not A Pipe" in English) is a clever exercise in semiotics, but this tattoo brings the point home further. Get it? It's a tattoo of a pipe, not a pipe. Props to Jon Mesa at Sacred Tattoo in New York for this clever tat.
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16. Shepard Fairey, Obey Peace Goddess
While many people have tattooed Fairey's Obama Hope poster on themselves, we're all about this classic Obey Peace Goddess tattoo. Tattoo artist Dave Wah did this skilled ink job.
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15. Michelangelo, The Creation of Adam
So many artists have referenced Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam from the Sistine Chapel ceiling that it's hard to keep track. We like this back tattoo that stays true to the original, focusing in on God imparting the spark of life to Adam.
14. Vincent Van Gogh, The Starry Night
Van Gogh's The Starry Night has been copied in so many ways, but this version framed with an Etch A Sketch is an original take on the classic painting.
13. Joan Miro, The Nightingale's Song at Midnight and the Morning Rain
Miro's abstract works seem like they would look good anywhere on your body. This figure from Nightingale's Song is no exception.
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12. Henri Matisse, The Red Studio
Matisse's The Red Studio isn't the first Matisse tattoo you'd expect to see, especially because all of that red is a big commitment. But this guy took it all the way with stunning results.
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11. Pablo Picasso, Dove of Peace
Picasso's Dove of Peace is a minimal tattoo with a big statement. The simple outline means it looks good no matter the location.
10. Claude Monet, Impression, Sunrise
Monet has plenty of Impressionist artwork to choose from for a tattoo, but we particularly like this one of an earlier painting in the French artist's career done by an artist at Oni Tattoo in Salt Lake City.
9. Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa is one of the most reproduced images of all time, and it's made it onto tattoos in both color and black-and-white. We're impressed that this version even got the famous Mona Lisa smile down.
8. Banksy, Throwing Flowers
From a wall to someone's ribcage, if Throwing Flowers doesn't make a statement as a tattoo, we're not sure what does.
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7. Salvador Dalí, The Elephants
Everyone and their brother seems to have Salvador Dalí's elephant tattooed wherever it will fit. But we think it looks amazing as this back tattoo.
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6. Edward Munch, The Scream
This version of Munch's The Scream comes from the hand of tattoo artist 540. The colors in this rendition of the famous work blow us away.
5. Gustav Klimt, The Kiss
The only way that this version of Klimt's work would shine brighter would be if you could use gold ink.
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4. Piet Mondrian, Composition II in Red, Blue, and Yellow
Mondrian's grids are famous for their use of space and line, making his works an obvious choice for an art tattoo. Does a tattoo get any classier than this geometric beauty?
3. Keith Haring
Tattoo artist Erica Diniso channeled her inner Keith Haring to create this tattoo inspired by the '90s artist's signature style.
2. Frida Kahlo, Self-Portrait Dedicated to Dr. Eloesser
Frida Kahlo spent most of her life painting self-portraits. This version of her work is almost as epic as her unibrow.
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1. Andy Warhol, 32 Campbell's Soup Cans
Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans is perhaps the most ubiquitous contemporary icon there is. We've seen it in museums and on bags, shirts, shoes, and more. This tat would have made the king of pop art proud.