What Was I Made For? (2023) is a homemade American flag that has been constructed from sourced materials and then almost entirely seam ripped apart in order to question where the American flag, as a symbol and as an object, exists. After being inspired by the lyrics in Billie Eilish’s song “What Was I Made For?” I imagined the American flag expressing similar questions and woes: “I used to float, now I just fall down… thought I was happy but I’m not sure now… [I’m] just something you paid for… what was I made for?”

While creating this work, I documented the process with my camera, focusing on the care embedded in its construction. I took time to correct any misplaced stitches, hand-stitched before using a machine to ensure the lines were as precise as possible, and carefully pressed the fabric to give it a polished, finished appearance.

This meticulous approach to crafting the object was deliberate—a facade of perfection meant to underscore the significance of its eventual destruction.

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Grad Show One was a show put on by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to showcase the first portion of the 2025 MFA graduates’ thesis exhibitions.

Grad Show One ran from February 20 - March 1, 2025

saic.edu/exhibitions