Overview

Rick Genest (August 7, 1985 – August 1, 2018), widely known by the nickname "Zombie Boy," was a Canadian artist, fashion model and occasional actor. He gained international recognition for the extensive skeletal and anatomical tattoos that covered most of his body, a striking aesthetic that led to editorial work, music-video appearances and collaborations with high-profile designers and performers.

Appearance and body art

Genest's appearance was defined by large-scale tattoos that recreated skull, bone and decay motifs across his face, torso and limbs. The tattoos combined elements of anatomical illustration and macabre imagery, and they became his signature, influencing how he was cast and photographed. He also worked as an artist in other media and discussed body art as a form of personal expression.

Career highlights

Genest's look brought opportunities in fashion and entertainment. He appeared prominently in music and fashion projects, most famously in Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" video, where Gaga adopted makeup echoing his tattoos for part of the clip (see the video). He also had a supporting role credited as the foreman in the 2013 film 47 Ronin. Editorial shoots, runway appearances and magazine features followed, positioning him at the intersection of alternative culture and mainstream fashion.

Notable projects and recognition

  • Music-video appearance that increased global visibility.
  • Work within the fashion industry and photographic editorials.
  • Planned commemorative sculpture by artist Marc Quinn, titled "Self-Conscious Gene," proposed for display at the Science Museum in London; the project was discussed publicly as a way to examine identity and the human body.

Cultural impact and interpretation

Genest's career opened conversations about body modification, identity and the boundaries between art and life. Critics and admirers framed his tattoos variously as a form of performance, an art project worn on the body, and a challenge to conventional beauty standards. His visibility in popular media brought increased attention to tattoo culture and to how physical appearance can be used intentionally to shape a public persona.

Death and aftermath

On August 1, 2018, Genest died after a fall from the balcony of his apartment in the Plateau-Mont-Royal area of Montreal. Initial police reports indicated the possibility of suicide, but subsequent legal proceedings and an official inquest examined the circumstances more closely. In October 2019 a coroner concluded the death was accidental, a finding that altered the earlier public narrative (coroner finding).

Rick Genest remains a figure of interest for students of contemporary body art and fashion history. His life and work continue to be cited in discussions about how radical appearance can function as artistic practice and cultural commentary.