SCULPT & SHAPE. Tyree Heding, a visual and tattoo artist in the Chippewa Valley, has brought a fine art approach to the everyday rug. Over the past few years, he has transformed the walls of Eau Claire’s Abraxas Wax record shop (320 Graham Ave., Suite 102) with rugs depicting notable pop culture and musical icons.

Woah there, don’t tread on it! The everyday rug has been transformed into a vessel for vibrant storytelling, thanks to Tyree Heding, a local visual artist.

Heding’s rugs, which frequently share his love for music and pop culture, can be found across the walls of local joints in the Chippewa Valley; downtown Eau Claire’s Abraxas Wax record shop (320 Graham Ave., Suite 102) possibly holds the most rugs from Heding’s collection.

As with many visual artists in the Valley and beyond, Heding discovered his latest artistic calling thanks to the influence of friends and fellow creatives he encountered online.

As a lifelong sketch artist with pen and ink, the emphasis on texture and fine details translated well with the motions of rug tufting, Heding said. 

“A lot of (the art) is in the trimming aspect,” Heding said. “When you are shaving a rug, it’s almost like sculpting.”

Over the years, many of Heding's rugs have offered a unique take on familiar figures. Pieces featuring MF DOOM, The Grateful Dead, Wu-Tang Clan and even Bart Simpson are currently displayed on the walls of Abraxas Wax.

Over time, Heding has grown to also center his rug creations on physical locations in the Valley: the evolution of the Abraxas Wax logo and iconography synonymous with the well-known Water Street bar, The Joynt.

“I have had countless nights at The Joynt,” Heding said (nights I am sure many of us know all too well...). “(It’s) having something that people recognize and can get a feel for.”

Heding gave Volume One associate editor, Evelyn Nelson (right), a tour of his tufted rugs on display at Abraxas Wax in downtown Eau Claire. View the complete video and close-up shots of his work – like The Joynt's notable coaster – online via YouTube.

Rugs with more sculptural elements to them, like Heding’s reimagining of the iconic Joynt coaster, can range from days to weeks of maneuvering the tufting gun into fabric, moving it along the design and creating new curves with the needle.

“Something that is important is being open to trying new things and seeing how it goes – you never know where it is going to lead,” he said.

Heding – a jack of many trades – currently works as a tattoo artist at Wintership Tattoo (202 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire), as well.

This complementary visual art outlet allows for natural overlap with rug making; locals can come to him with an idea or concept and he creates specific designs – giving them a physical item they can keep for a long time.

The collaborative environment of the tattoo shop offers a constant source of new inspiration for Heding, he said. These spaces allow him to both draw from and contribute to the creative process of others.

“The most important thing for me is inspiring other people to create… the more art in the world, the better” Heding said.

Whether you decide to hang a Heding rug on the wall of your home or storefront – or simply use it as floor decor – he remains both humble and grateful for the chance to incorporate bright, locally-rooted art throughout your space.

Locals can connect with Heding through social media (@desolate.society) to inquire about a personalized commission and bring your ideas to life.

Heding pictured with two rugs made especially for Abraxas Wax, which illustrate the record shop's evolving logo and themed characters.

Stop by Abraxas Wax (320 Graham Ave., Suite 102, Eau Claire) to check out Tyree Heding’s tufted rug art, with select options available for purchase. Send Heding a message through Instagram or Facebook to inquire about a personalized rug commission.