13 Halloween Costume Ideas Inspired by the Art World

It’s easy to dress as the king of pop art and it couldn’t be cooler either. Just throw on a black polo neck and black jeans, grab a wig and carry a few cans of Campbell’s Soup for good measure.

Be the belle of the Dutch Golden Age as Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. The earring itself is of course the key accessory here and you will also need both a blue and a yellow headscarf, a white shirt, a beige shawl and a flowy skirt. Minimal makeup is required – just a reddish pink lip and hey presto!

This street art icon by Banksy is a great costume option if you want to be ultra trendy and artsy at the same time. Keep it simple without the face paint, dual-coloured jeans and hoodie all together, or go all out like this guy did, making art out of his art-themed outfit!

Wear the most famous smile in the world as Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa! A frame with a landscape background is all you need, then cut through, let those wavy locks loose, get those cheek dimples showing and voila! Again, this look requires practically no makeup, and the outfit itself can be mimicked with simple basics from your closet.

Keep it easy and utterly recognisable as the Dutch post-impressionist painter behind such masterpieces as Starry Night. A natural ginger beard is ideal for this look, but you can always buy one if need be! Beyond that, you will need a straw hat, cardigan or blazer and to top it off, an old-fashioned pipe. For an added bonus, try taping up one of your ears.

Get geometric, as a Piet Mondrian painting! While you probably don’t own a dress like this, it wouldn’t be too hard to DIY a colour-block frock to resemble the iconic works of this Dutch modernist painter.

Pose as one of art history’s most famous sculptures ever, Edgar Degas’s Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen. You are covering two bases with this tutu, as not only are you portraying the now multi-million dollar artwork, but also the subject the piece is based on, young Paris Opera Ballet student, Marie van Goethem.

Want to dress as one of the most expensive paintings sold at auction ever and stay in the horror theme at the same time? Look no further than Edvard Munch’s The Scream. Pro-tip: Grab a poster of the famous artwork if you don’t feel like trying to paint the background yourself.

Let your eyebrow hair fly free as Mexican surrealist painter, Frida Kahlo. A fabulous flower crown, statement bracelets, bold lip and colourful embroidered clothing complete this look.

Grant Wood’s American Gothic has to be the world’s most perfect artsy couples costume! Just channel Little House on the Prairie for the clothing, jump in that frame and create what Instagram dreams are made of. Oh, and whatever you do don’t forget the pitchfork!

Go fully cubist as a Pablo Picasso portrait! The makeup for this look is pretty intensive but remember, these works are abstract anyway, so feel free to make mistakes! The striped shirt is a lovely touch here and of course the frame not only alludes to the painting itself, but also adds another square to complete the theme.

If you want to keep your costume fun, simple and absolutely charming, surrealist artist Salvador Dali is an excellent choice. Plus, you’ll get to don what will probably be the most incredible moustache of your life.

Recreate Pop Art in real life as a Roy Lichtenstein girl! Again, the makeup is no joke here, but based on how awesome this look is, it is absolutely worth it! Large pearl earrings and a sun-yellow wig will leave people confusing you for the original. For an added bonus, make yourself a comment bubble and write in one of the artist’s famous phrases.