Unbound: Reflections on My Anti-Diet Art Show
I am so honored and humbled by the response to my art show, Unbound. This project was incredibly personal, a collision of years of struggle with dieting, disordered eating, eating disorders, body shame, and ultimately, healing. I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the experience of creating the show, what it meant to me, and the conversations it sparked.
I spent months (even longer really) creating Unbound, pouring my pieces of my soul into every piece, every aspect. I had wanted to do an anti diet show for sometime, and had been working out what that could look like. It started to come together when I visited an art museum where an exhibit about slavery included a room completely built out. Wallpapered with old newspaper clippings, layered with immersive scenic elements that transported you into the reality of that time. It was deeply moving and stayed with me long after I left.
That experience made me think: what if I could create a similarly immersive environment to confront diet culture?
Diet culture has been a part of so our lives in ways that are both pervasive and deeply damaging. I started gathering real diet ads old, new, and everything in between, to create a custom wallpaper for the exhibit, filled with the lies and false promises we've been fed for generations.
While I was happy with how the wallpaper turned out, I’ll be honest, the space I used for the show was much brighter and airier than I had originally envisioned. I worried it wouldn’t create the intense, heavy feeling I had imagined when I first dreamed up the concept. But in the end, it worked in its own way. It made the heaviness of the imagery and words stand out even more starkly against the light.
The process of building Unbound was incredibly emotional. Digging through decades of toxic messaging brought up old wounds and memories of my own battles with anorexia, bulimia, and the endless cycle of shame that diet culture fosters. Writing the poetry, painting the pieces, and assembling the exhibit meant revisiting places inside myself that I have befriended but don’t always remind that, that shame is still ongoing. It was hard, but it was also healing. And seeing how many of you connected with the final result made every difficult moment worth it.
One of the most powerful parts of the exhibit was the conversations it sparked. I was especially moved by how many dietitians attended and shared their perspectives. They spoke candidly about the real harm diet culture causes, not just emotional damage, but lasting physical harm too. It was affirming and surreal to have such open, compassionate discussions with people working to change the system from within.
Many of you may not know that I once studied to become a dietitian myself. I ultimately chose not to pursue licensing. I realized it wouldn’t be healthy for me personally, given my own history with food and control. Still, that background gives me a deep understanding of how bodies work and a deep respect for those working toward body liberation.
The Power of Words
Another part of Unbound that surprised and moved me was the response to my writing. Words have always been one of my first loves they're a kind of magic, capable of weaving emotions into something tangible. So many of you asked where you could read more. This has been something I’ve been working on and am excited to let you know I am putting together a collection of poems and essays about body liberation, body neutrality, sexuality, and reclaiming self-worth. It’s still early, but I hope to publish it within the next year.
I’m also incredibly grateful to everyone who traveled to see Unbound — some of you drove hours just to be there. Whether we had met before or not, your presence meant everything. Knowing that my work resonated enough for you to show up in person is something I will never take for granted.
Unbound wasn’t just an art show, it was a declaration. It was a way of saying: I will no longer live under the shame that was handed to me. I refuse to believe the lie that my body is a problem to solve. As someone who spent years caught between eating disorders and diet culture, this show was my way of breaking free and inviting others to break free with me.
Finally, I want to acknowledge something personal: in-person events can be challenging for me. As an autistic person, navigating emotional interactions can feel overwhelming, and I sometimes worry that my reactions might seem awkward or out of sync. But every single person I met at Unbound was patient, kind, and understanding. I never once felt judged for showing up exactly as I am and for that, I am endlessly thankful.
Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Thank you for your kindness, your vulnerability, and your willingness to be moved. I can’t wait to continue creating work that invites all of us to be more unbound.
XOXO,
Tiffany