Brooklyn-based textile artist Cheeks (Ramell-Correen Frederick) brought his 104-year-old chainstitch embroidery machine to Habana Outpost in Fort Greene during the Knicks’ NBA Championship win on Saturday night. He sold all 15 of his pre-made Knicks fan designs and embroidered clothing for strangers with slogans like “Send the Spurs to the ‘Knick U,’” working from 7:30 pm past 1 am. The self-taught artist, who runs the brand Tattoo’d Cloth, views his portable craft as a form of art that gives new life to found objects, comparing it to tattooing fabric.
The story matters because it highlights how a local artist leveraged a major sports victory to connect with the community and share his art in public spaces. Cheeks, a Queens-born Black artist who was expelled from a specialized arts high school, continues to teach himself embroidery and uses his pop-ups to engage with diverse audiences. His viral moment underscores the intersection of street art, city pride, and grassroots creativity in Brooklyn’s cultural landscape.