‘ArtSpots’ by Amara Aleman: Body Art with Vitiligo to Raise Awareness and Promote Body Positivity

Amara Aleman is an American visual artist who has been using her vitiligo as a tool to create beautiful body art. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease symptom that affects up to 1 percent of the world’s population. People with vitiligo will often lose the melanin pigments in their skin, or have melanin pigments appear in splotches. This creates an uneven skin tone that is often stigmatized by society and becomes a source of great mental distress for those affected by the condition.

When Aleman first noticed her vitiligo, which sprouted seemingly overnight in 2018 after she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, she had to gradually learn how to live with her new appearance while juggling how to cope with her illness. Hence, Aleman turned to art and began painting on her vitiligo. She began creating beautiful works of art that transform her skin disorder into a canvas. Long story short, Aleman now runs a popular Instagram and TikTok account where her art is able to promote body positivity for others living with vitiligo. At the same time, she is raising people’s awareness of the skin condition, helping to reduce further stigmatization down the road. This is why the vitiligo body paintings by Amara Aleman are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Good Health And Well-Being.

Aleman’s social media handles (@amara_artspots) references the title that she has given to her vitiligo body art pieces—ArtSpots. In an interview with People Magazine, Aleman shared that the title ArtSpots is an homage to her vitiligo spots, it is also her take on “an alter ego who’s not afraid to embody her most confident self.” Ultimately, ArtSpots has been about making people with Vitiligo feel seen and heard. “It's crazy getting private messages from people with vitiligo who would tell me, ‘Seeing this has helped me accept my skin,’ […] Those kinds of messages made me feel like if I keep showing up and more people with vitiligo see this, maybe it could save someone from feeling the way that I felt when I was first diagnosed,” shares Aleman.

Amara Aleman’s ArtSpots uses her vitiligo as a canvas to create striking body art that not only raises awareness of the skin condition but also promotes body positivity. By transforming her experience of vitiligo into art, Aleman challenges societal stigmas and empowers others living with the condition to embrace their unique appearance. Her work, shared widely on social media, fosters a supportive community and has inspired many to accept themselves. ArtSpots contributes to mental wellness and reduces the stigma around skin disorders.

Find out more about vitiligo body paintings and other pieces by Amara Aleman on her Instagram @amara_artspots.