Actually, this is at the root of the centuries old worship of bodily remains of saints: the so called relics.

Illustrated: detail of St.Deodatus relics. The display of his revered remains at Moosburg an der Isar, was cancelled and the skeleton eventually scelled out of sight inside its coffin, after it was ruled disgusting by an anglican minister visiting the town in 1840.(Trésors des Catacombes, by Paul Koudounaris, Ed. de la Martinière, page 143).

Of course, in case of relics of the saints, it is their fans that are responsible for their sacralization, whereas Art goes a step further, and makes himself an amulet -- out of a sublimated self-esteem, may I ask?
This we may link to the Japanese buddhist ritual of making a mummy out of oneself (with the help of your friends): search for sokushinbutsu if feeling intrigued. The second pic is but one example of the outcome.