If you have ever looked at a museum masterpiece and thought, “This would absolutely go viral if the subject were dressed in more modern attire,” Scottish artist Ross Muir is basically making art for you.
Muir has built a following by remixing instantly recognizable historical imagery and giving it a sharp, modern streetwear twist. A saintly, icon-style portrait becomes “Wee Mary,” complete with a glowing gold halo and a nameplate necklace that feels more like a pop star accessory than a sacred symbol.
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˝Square Gogh˝
Van Gogh appears in multiple forms as well, including Muir’s viral “Square Gogh” take and versions that swap tortured artist energy for sporty confidence, such as the one rocking a Titleist visor with golf clubs slung over his shoulder.
˝Cona Lisa˝
This "artist" used AI. Look at the misalignment of the nose and the lips. A typical error of Ai pics that humans usually don't commit.
Elsewhere, you will spot nods to classic portraiture that suddenly feel like they belong on an album cover, a fashion lookbook, or a Glasgow street corner, with bold Adidas stripes, hoodies, and logo-level styling doing the heavy lifting.
˝Frida Perry˝
What makes Muir’s work click is that it is not just a cheap joke over a famous painting. He keeps the pose, the lighting, and the atmosphere that made the original compelling, then drops in contemporary details that change the entire personality.
Muir's reimaginin of ˝Pas Mèche˝ (˝Nothing Doing˝) by Jules Bastien-Lepage.
A Frida Kahlo-inspired portrait gets turned into “Frida Perry,” swapping traditional dress for a crisp polo and big hoops, while a refined figure with a halo might show up looking like she is about to walk into a club rather than a cathedral.
˝Completed It, Mate˝
Muir's remake of ˝After the ball˝ from 1899, by Catalan Artist Ramon Casas.
˝One Man's Pigeon, Is Another Man's Dove.˝
˝Wee Mary˝
Muir’s story is part of the appeal, too. Born in 1981 and based in Scotland, he started painting at 30 with no formal training after receiving a small set of paints as a gift. What began as a hobby and an escape quickly turned into a full-time career.
˝Two Sons˝
˝Tiga Tiga˝
˝The Problem With Time˝
In 2018, “Square Gogh” blew up online, galleries took notice, and his first solo exhibition in Glasgow sold out before the doors even opened. When lockdown hit, he took the joke outside, plastering Glasgow with his “Jist Gogh Hame” posters and catching international attention, including a shoutout from the official Van Gogh Museum on Instagram.
˝High Winds Blow On High Hills˝
˝Green Lady˝
˝Frida˝
Maddox Gallery later brought him on as a represented artist, cementing what social media had already figured out: old art still has plenty of life in it, especially when you dress it like it has places to be.
˝Green Lady, Red Top˝
˝Bulletproof˝
A reworking of a painting by Raphael of Saint Sebastian.
˝Say Grace˝
˝Nevermind˝
˝Absolute Belters˝
˝Green Bow˝
˝The Bridge Home˝
Muir's reimagining of Henri Rousseau’s ˝Myself,˝ portrait-landscape from 1890 by inserting himself into the painting.
˝Cut & Burn˝
˝Crop Here˝
˝Really?˝
˝Frida Perry (Back To Black)˝
˝Taking The…˝
˝Rogue˝
˝Maddog˝
˝Oh Jessica˝
“Jacqueline With Flowers”
You can see Muir's other works on his Instagram page and website. Let us know in the comments which is your favorite!
So many misaligned noses and lips. An error humans typically don't commit. Looks suspiciously like AI slop.
So many misaligned noses and lips. An error humans typically don't commit. Looks suspiciously like AI slop.
