Collage Skull Illustrations by Ali Gulec, a Fresh Approach on the Skull Art
Formerly an emblem of evil and mortality, the skull has been transformed into an avant-garde design element used in the most cutting-edge art, chic interiors and vanguard style of the moment.
Whether embellished on costly T-shirts, woven on limited edition chairs, and even encrusted with diamonds sold at an art auction for $100 million, the skull is no longer just a daunting memento of our frail mortality but a contemporary figure of fashion.
There is no limit to the ways skulls can be and are used in art today. From million dollar jewel-encrusted skulls to department store reproductions, every skull lover can find the one that suits their taste.
One of the artists who have managed to overcome the cliché that the skull can be in art, reinventing this once morbid trinket of death into a much-desired decoration is Ali Gulec, an illustrator and designer based in Istanbul, Turkey – a city that inspires him.
Ali Gulec is the co-owner of Ikiiki Design Studio, an innovative and creative design studio that provides world-famous brands with design consultancy services. He designs T-shirt prints for a living, his works standing out through the unconventional juxtapositions he creates. Fresh and quirky, the surrealistic pieces designed by the Turkish artist are full of life and color.
One of Ali’s most beloved projects is entitled “The Message”, a series of illustrations created using digital and traditional collage, painting, photography (sometimes all of them in one piece).
Within this project, the artist manages to come up with a fresh approach on the classical skull art, combining different items to form the ubiquitous symbol of death with each skull more complex than the next.
The skull artwork created by Ali Gulec is very well suited to be transposed on the skin, his illustrations taking skulls tattoos designs to a whole new level – however, you must find a skilled tattooist to capture the complexity and multitude of details of Ali Gulec’s skull illustrations.
Scroll down and take a look to the image gallery below, maybe you’ll find a collage skull illustration to inspire you for your next tattoo. Don’t forget to visit Ali Gulec’s Society6 shop to support the artist!
…. check out these sick tattoos inspired by Ali Gulec’s skull illustrations:
