# Sugar-Skulled Icons Jonathan Koshi Gives Pop Culture Figures a Day of the Dead Makeover By Matt Ho | Published 2011-12-01 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jonathan-koshi References: [sweet-station](http://sweet-station.com/blog/2011/11/jonathan-koshi/) & [notesfromthezeitgeist.blogspot](http://notesfromthezeitgeist.blogspot.com/) I’ve always had a fascination with sugar skulls, so Jonathan Koshi’s artworks really caught my eye. Jonathan Koshi is a talented artist who’s well-known for giving pop culture figures a [Day of the Dead makeover](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lush-2025-da-de-muertos). He has reworked some familiar faces into that of a sugar skull, which represents a departed soul. The black-and-white portraits of icons such as the [LEGO](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sen-donnan) man head, Ultraman and Felix the Cat feature elaborate details that stay true to the traditional designs with flowers and meticulously drawn-out patterns. I especially love the Mario piece in which he incorporates several objects from the game into the piece. The mix of pop culture figures with the imagery of a traditional holiday makes Koshi’s work a welcoming piece. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.0/10 - Popularity: 52% | Activity: 59% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 10% men, 90% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Day of the Dead Pop Culture:** Exploring the trend of giving pop culture figures a Day of the Dead makeover, creating new and unique artwork with a traditional twist. - **Sugar Skull Art:** The trend of using sugar skulls as a medium for art, combining traditional designs with modern pop culture icons. - **Mixing Traditional and Contemporary:** The trend of blending traditional holiday imagery with elements of pop culture, resulting in artistic and visually striking creations. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Art and Design:** Opportunity for artists and designers to create innovative and marketable artwork by incorporating traditional sugar skull designs into pop culture figures. - **Entertainment:** Opportunity for the entertainment industry to explore new merchandise and collectibles featuring pop culture figures reimagined with Day of the Dead aesthetics. - **Fashion and Apparel:** Opportunity for fashion and apparel brands to incorporate Day of the Dead-inspired designs into clothing, accessories, and footwear, combining traditional elements with contemporary trends. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Character Crossover Figures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skullpanda-x-sanrio.md) - [Sci-Fi-Inspired Classical Posters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sen-donnan.md) - [Collectible Historical Figurines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/thrilljoy-pix.md) - [Pop Art Legend-Honoring Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/keiichi-tanaami-1.md) - [Mexican Tradition-Inspired Timepieces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/timex-day-of-the-dead-weekender.md) - [Mexican Holiday-Branded Sodas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/manzanita-sol.md) - [Digital Archetype Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/christian-rex-van-minnen-1.md) - [Collectible Mexican Holiday Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barbie-2023-da-de-muertos-doll.md) - [Anime Horror-Style Reimaginations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/junji-ito-artwork.md)