Chicago Artist Who Started "You Are Beautiful" Movement Coming to The Little Traveler

A little sticker simply stating “you are beautiful” has started a global movement. In 2002, Chicago-based artist and designer Matthew Hoffman started out with 100 stickers. His intention was to brighten someone’s day and remind them that even when things aren’t great, it’s ok. Today, over 2 million of these stickers have been shared all over the world. People stick them anywhere—on bus seats, with tips for dinner, on their bestie’s foreheads—to evoke a smile and unapologetically say it’s okay to be human. With these three simple words, Hoffman is delivering a powerful message that resonates around the globe.

You can meet Matthew Hoffman at The Little Traveler on Saturday, April 11, at 9am. He’ll show a short film about the project and sign his book, A Decade of You Are Beautiful. $15 ticket includes breakfast and a $5 shopping coupon. Register at littletraveler.com or by phone (630-232-4200; ask for the Fair Trade Gallery). Matthew will stay after the presentation to sign books in The Little Traveler’s newly expanded Fair Trade Gallery.

In addition to producing stickers and other You Are Beautiful merchandise, Hoffman has collaborated with cities and organizations to create public art installations to convey the message on a grander scale. “When the phrase You Are Beautiful is integrated into a city or community, it creates an immediate positive dialogue,” states the You Are Beautiful website. The words have been proclaimed boldly in public works of art from Chicago to Oregon to Italy and in between.

These tiny stickers have even caught the attention of media maven Oprah Winfrey. Learn more about the You Are Beautiful movement by watching this video produced by the Oprah Winfrey Network.