Tattoo Artist Gives Sick Kids Free Art for 10 Years

When Benjamin Lloyd posted a simple idea on social media ten years ago, he had no idea it would become his mission. The New Zealand tattoo artist promised that if enough people liked his post, he would visit kids in hospitals and give them temporary tattoos that wash off easily.

Nearly half a million people liked that post. Lloyd kept his word.

For almost ten years now, Lloyd has been visiting children at Starship Children's Hospital in Auckland and other facilities. He brings his artistic skills and non-toxic, temporary tattoo materials to kids who spend their days surrounded by medical procedures and needle pokes. The difference? His art doesn't hurt.

The project comes from a deeply personal place. As a child, Lloyd had a burn scar on his arm that made him self-conscious. He would cover it with drawings to feel more confident, and that experience taught him how powerful art can be for building self-esteem.

Today, he creates whatever designs the kids dream up. Full-sleeve tattoos with bright roses and butterflies. Metal-looking shapes with silver stars and crosses. Delicate patterns that make young patients feel more like themselves and less like hospital residents.

Sunny's Take

Lloyd says nothing brings him more joy than boosting kids' confidence with custom artwork. The only downside? The children never want to shower afterward because they don't want their special tattoos to fade.

Comments on his social media posts overflow with gratitude and admiration. People call him an amazing human and thank him for breathing positivity into humanity. One commenter who lived in New Zealand shared that Kiwis are incredibly kind and authentic people, and Lloyd proves it.

In hospitals full of needles and procedures that hurt, Lloyd brings something different. He brings art that heals in its own way, helping kids feel confident in their own skin when they need it most.