Huggable Heart Project
n 2017, I had the incredible opportunity to create an interactive art piece as part of an artist-in-residence program with the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. At the time, my journey as a textile artist was just beginning, and I wanted to create something that invited connection—something that responded to the simple act of being held. The result was the Huggable Heart, a giant, soft sculpture designed to offer comfort, joy, and a little bit of magic in return to anyone who embraced it.
New Installation
The Huggable Heart (2025)
In early 2025, I was given the opportunity to recreate The Huggable Heart—this time with years of experience behind me. Since the original installation in 2017, I’ve grown into a confident and skilled natural dyer, and I wanted this new version to reflect not only my deep connection to plant-based color but also the power of trusting your creative instincts.
I sourced reclaimed silk and wool yarn from a meaningful trip to Scotland to create the canvas. Using madder root, marigold, indigo, and cochineal, I dyed the piece entirely with natural materials—each hue a tribute to nature, process, and place. This version of The Huggable Heart is a celebration of how far I've come as an artist.
This piece is also a true collaboration with my life partner, Chris Saylor—an incredible software engineer and creative force in his own right. Together, we brought the heart to life using recorded heartbeat sounds from Johns Hopkins Medical Center. Chris programmed the sculpture to gently beat in response to a hug, offering a moment of connection and comfort to everyone who interacts with it. We also added lights, allowing the heart to shine and dazzle its viewers day or night.