Vivian Huang Turns Discarded Sneakers into Botanical Sculptures

Vivian Huang, known as @cerealartist, deconstructs discarded sneakers and reassembles them into flower sculptures. Petals come from uppers, stems from laces, leaves from soles—each bouquet element retains its recognizable origin. A lilac Puma Speedcat with fluorescent yellow stripes becomes a hibiscus. Pink UGG boots with intact fur transform into a daisy. Keen shoes become a two-tone pansy with purple and yellow petals, technical details still legible. Nothing is hidden or wasted: every part finds a new function, logos remain visible as a reminder of the source. The project has run for over six years, building a recognizable language at the intersection of sneaker culture, upcycling, and botanical sculpture—belonging fully to none. Upcycling is not the compositional focus; rather, Huang collects end-of-life fashion objects and recirculates them in a new form without altering their materiality. The work creates a short circuit: objects designed to last, forgotten in closets, returned to a form associated with ephemeral beauty.