Recently fashion make-up has shown a tendency towards total fashion. It also often creates images with unique world of art as visual language which induces harmony with clothes. Fashion show make-up has several images. Above all, an avant-garde image often shows experimental, future-oriented, and the most creative image design and is also expressed in many different ways. This study aims to examine how the characteristics of expression elements exist in avant-garde make-up images and how they are expressed as a visual message. The methods of study included both theoretical and empirical research. First of all, theoretical research reviewed the concept of fashion show make-up and avant-garde in domestic and foreign literatures and previous researches. Then the characteristics of avant-garde make-up were investigated in connection with expression elements, which contributed to a theoretical basis. Based on the theoretical basis, empirical research analyzed photographs extracted from fashion show make-up. The scope of the study was fashion show make-up of the world’s four major fashion shows (Paris, Milan, New York, and London) and haute couture from 2001 to 2012. The findings of the study were as follows. The element of a point represented an avant-garde image through the arrangement and clustering of points. The element of a line showed a creative image by breaking the locations of features or the frame of shape. The element of a plane expressed an avantgarde image in various forms of transformed design. The element of color suggested an avant-garde image by experimental effects contrary to conservative make-up through free expression of excessive vivid color. The element of a texture represented a creative avant-garde image by differentiation from general make-up through the use of glossy and shiny materials. Objects showed that all daily materials could become a object. Daring changes using special objects allowed very avant-garde expression and the analysis as an avant-garde image. Based on the results, it is suggested that the make-up of avant-garde image can be accomplished with the mixture of creative techniques through the characteristics of expression elements.