13 Halloween Costume Ideas Inspired by the Art World

Tired of your usual scary/trendy/risqué Halloween style? How about adding a flash of sophistication to your look this year with with an art-themed costume! From a Roy Lichtenstein pop art princess to the iconic American Gothic couple, here are 13 fancy dress ideas that will add some high culture and serious fun into your night!
Andy Warhol
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.

Girl with a Pearl Earring
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!

Rage, Flower Thrower
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!

Mona Lisa
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.

Vincent van Gogh
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.

Piet Mondrian
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.

Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen
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.

The Scream
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.

Frida Kahlo
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.

American Gothic
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!

Pablo Picasso
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.

Salvador Dali
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.

Roy Lichtenstein
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.

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!


Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.


KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.