Sugar Skull Designs – Inspiration from Mexican Folk Art

I bet you’ve all heard of sugar skulls and at least once you’ve seen a sugar skull design. Today I would like to tell you the story that’s behind these colorful skulls and show you a list of beautiful sugar skulls to use as inspiration.

Sugar skulls are literally exactly that: skull shaped sugar. Sugar skulls are closely related to Dia de los Muertos, an Aztec ritual which celebrated the lives of those who have deceased. This sugar art dates back to the 17th century, when Mexicans had very little money and plenty of sugar. They created molds of sugar as decorations and used them to adorn the church for the Dia de los Muertos. Each sugar skull represented an individual and their name was inscribed on the forehead of the skull.

Today, artists all around the world are inspired by this Mexican folk art and create handmade decorations, graphic designs, t-shirt designs, accessories with this symbol – the skull. I’ve put together a list of sugar skull inspired designs, from leather accessories, prints, tattoos and digital artworks, you will certainly feel inspired to go create a colorful, creative sugar skull of your own.

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