Fanart — Tag Meaning
A canonical tag for visual art posted as an AO3 work, since the archive hosts more than prose. Artists post standalone pieces, illustrated collaborations with writers, and art created for big bangs and exchanges.
What to Expect From "Fanart" Fics
An image-based work, sometimes embedded alongside a companion fic. Alt text and artist notes provide context.
How to find Fanart fics on AO3
On AO3, click any tag to see every work that uses it, then refine with the "Filters" sidebar — combine it with your fandom or ship, set a rating, or exclude tags you don't want. See our AO3 filtering guide for the full walkthrough.
Browse "Fanart" works on AO3Popular Fics Tagged "Fanart"
Real examples from AO3's most-kudosed works:
Home
by TheTypewriterGirl
Revenge
by feriowind
Palegun stuff
by Anonymous
dbh sketchbook
by autiacora
Commission Blorbo Gallery!
by WriterPug
Shrimparmy’s NSFW Fanart
by ShrimpArmy
Related Tags
Embedded Images
A canonical tag noting that images appear inside the work: illustrations, photo manips, faux screenshots, or social-media mockups. It serves as both a feature flag and an accessibility heads-up for screen-reader users.
Tag guide →
Art
A broad canonical tag for artistic works on the archive, overlapping with Fanart but also covering art as subject matter, such as artist AUs and stories set in studios and galleries. Context determines which sense applies.
Tag guide →
Fanvids
A canonical tag for fan-edited video works, an art form whose history runs back to VCR-era vidding collectives. AO3 entries typically embed or link the vid with notes on song choice and source footage.
Tag guide →
Inspired by Fanart
A freeform tag for fics sparked by another fan's artwork, a cycle of inspiration fandom treasures: art begets fic begets more art. Authors customarily link and credit the originating piece, and AO3's 'inspired by' relationship can formalize the connection.
Tag guide →
More Format & Structure Tags
Read Fanart fanfiction on the go
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