Is this the world's best body art? ( SNSFW )

Body art is an art form that stretches back thousands of years, although for one American artist, it is as relevant today as it ever was.

Craig Tracy paints stunning images on people's bodies before photographing them in unique poses.

The resulting collection of masterpieces could be regarded as some of the best body painting in the world by an artist at the top of his game.

Using luscious colours he spends up to nine hours painstakingly applying water-based paint to his volunteer's curvy bodies before photographing them.

The former illustrator began body painting in 2002 and opened his gallery in New Orleans five months after hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Painted Alive Gallery, which was opened in February 2006 was renamed Craig Tracy Gallery. LINK