Small canvas, big story: celebrating strength and community through queer needlepoint

I have been working with fiber arts since I can remember. My great grandmother tried to teach me quilting when I was in elementary school and I never caught on, but ventured into embroidery instead.

I started HxCCrafts in 2020 to connect with the art community during the isolation and uncertainty of the pandemic.

When quarantines began to lift, I started showing and selling my art with Safe Space and TransJam markets.

I found family among the RVA LGBTQ+ artist scene.

My art started as a fun way to express my interests.

But after losing one of the most important people in my life in 2021, I began pouring emotion into my pieces in a way I hadn’t before.

I’ve used art expression to critique the world around me.

I’ve also used art to support causes.

And to bring complex emotions and sentiments into visual format.

I’ve created custom pieces for folks who have shared with me intimate stories of their childhoods, their relationships, loss, and love.

I’ve had folks stand at my table for an hour telling me what they feel from a certain art piece.

Each art piece has a story to tell, reliant on the individual experiences and perspectives of the viewer.

There is no right or wrong way to feel about art.

The beauty of individuality in interpretation is what I most hope to share with the world.

Connecting with people through art has been a rewarding experience.

My art has become a way to express deep and personal emotions.

I cherish the collaborative nature of creating custom pieces for others.

Creating art after loss has given me a new perspective on my work.

I’m proud to support LGBTQ+ causes through my art.

Art has a powerful way of connecting people and sharing stories.

Fiber arts have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

Through my work, I hope to share the beauty of individuality and personal interpretation.

Art is not just about creating; it’s about connecting, understanding, and sharing with the world.

Emmett Tucker is an embroidery and fiber artist in Richmond, VA. He is a Social Work and Gender Studies graduate from VCU and is passionate about community work. He serves the LGBTQ+ community through local events with TransJam events, HeSheZe&We, and Diversity Thrift. Emmett runs the RVA Little Queer Library project based in Autonomy Salon, which provides access to Queer and banned books, as well as other accessibility projects including providing free period products in various locations in RVA. He and his husband live in a quiet home in Glen Allen with their daughter and two Schnauzers. Emmett’s work can be purchased both online and in person at The Beautiful Idea in Charlottesville.

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