Congratulations, I Guess

Congratulations, I Guess is an absurdly oversized, fabric and found-object sculpture of a cake—a towering, decorative monument to artistic achievement that is both indulgent and insincere. Adorned with sarcastic award ribbons and excessive, imperfect decorations, the piece embodies the tension between recognition and disillusionment, success and spectacle.

In academic and institutional settings, celebration often comes with conditions—validation is temporary, achievements are performative, and success is commodified. The cake, traditionally a symbol of joy and reward, here becomes a gaudy, unstable structure, stitched together from discarded materials and false promises. Its over-the-top, artificial aesthetic mirrors the hollow grandeur of institutional praise: sweet on the surface, but ultimately unsubstantial.

Through humor and playful rebellion, Congratulations, I Guess questions the expectations placed on artists and students, confronting the absurdity of validation in creative spaces. Is the cake an honor, a joke, or a warning? That depends on who’s cutting the slices.

Materials: Cardboard, Fabric, Beads, Pom Poms, Sequins, Metal Platter, Paper

Year: 2025

Dimensions: 20in x 20in x 24in