Tattoo Artist Transforms Scars Of Domestic Violence Into Empowering Works Of Art… For Free

Meet tattoo artist Flavia Carvalho. Not only is she awesomely talented, but she’s been helping survivors of domestic violence deal with their scars in the most beautiful way.

Two years ago, Flavia worked with a client who had been stabbed in a nightclub by a man she turned down.

“She told me that she was at a nightclub, and when she turned down a man who approached her, he stabbed her with a switchblade”.

In order to cover up the scar, Carvalho tattooed blooming flowers and a bird – symbols of beauty, sensitivity, and growth. The artist saw how deeply touched the client was with her tattoo that she decided to bring her “scar tattoos” to more women – entirely free!

Flavia Carvalho

Since then, Carvalho has been providing voluntary services for women left with scars from domestic violence as well as mastectomies in support of the healing and empowerment of women. She called the project A Pele da Flor (The Skin of the Flower), deriving from the Portuguese expression “A flor da pele” (deeper than skin).

Flavia Carvalho

Flavia Carvalho

All the client needs to do is to choose a design and the awesome tattoo artist will take care of the rest.

“As I said, my services are a hundred percent voluntary, and the only “cost” women need to invest is to choose a design for their tattoos!”

Flavia Carvalho

Carvalho says her goal is to help women feel better about their bodies and selves by reclaiming their scars as marks of transformation and strength.

Flavia Carvalho

Flavia Carvalho

A Pele da Flor has received outpouring support on social media, raising important issues related to domestic violence, the battle with cancer, and body image.

Flavia Carvalho

H/t Beautiful Decay