Hardy is most notable as a fine artist for his enduring exploration of the intersection between the graphic traditions of “low culture” tattoo art and refined sensibilities of “high art” aesthetics, a common feature of postmodernism. Hardy pioneered the pop-culture tattoo-as-art space decades before the worldwide boom in tattoo art that permeates popular culture. In 2004 Christian Audigier licensed the rights to produce the Ed Hardy clothing line, which is based on Hardy's imagery. in 2007 the Fragrance for men and women were introduced.