This week, we’re proud to spotlight Kid Kardiac, a Memphis-based textile artist who uses tufting as both a creative outlet and a powerful tool for storytelling. What started in the summer of 2020 as a simple project—a rug for her music space—quickly evolved into a full-fledged artistic practice, one rooted in culture, history, and the importance of capturing moments in time.
To follow Kid Kardiac’s journey and see more of her incredible work, check out @kidkardiac. Her art doesn’t just capture moments—it gives them permanence, transforming them into stories that live on.
Tufting as a way to preserve Black history
For Kid Kardiac, tufting is more than craft—it’s a way to honor and preserve Black history and culture, ensuring important moments aren’t lost to time. Her featured rug is the final piece in a series celebrating the iconic Jeff Hamilton jackets worn by Kobe Bryant and the Lakers during their legendary three-peat in the early 2000s. “I wanted to pay homage to Kobe in moments of celebration”
All of her art centers around moments—especially those tied to Black American history—that deserve to be physically preserved.
“The world moves so fast, and we tend to quickly move from one moment to the next. I feel like it’s important to pause—to bring nostalgia to people who experienced these moments in real time, and education to those who may not know the full story.”
Enjoy the process—even the mistakes
The rug took about 9 days to complete, and while time management was a challenge, Kid Kardiac’s motivation never wavered. “I’m driven by seeing the piece come together, so there were no moments where I felt like giving up.”
Her favorite part of tufting? The therapeutic rhythm of the process itself. “It truly feels like an outlet for me. I’d tell anyone getting into tufting to really enjoy the process—even the mistakes. Be present with what you’re making and have fun with it.”
Armed with just her tufting gun and yarn, Kid Kardiac brought her vision to life. If he were to revisit the piece, she might extend the design to include Kobe’s shoes, but overall, she’s proud of how it turned out—and rightfully so.
