Hollow Victories

Tossed Trophies, Abandoned Awards, and other Discarded Tokens of Achievement

February 1 - 28, 2026

Thrift stores are a glimpse into the tail end of consumerism, places where objects that have left the curated space of the home come to rest. Much of this domestic detritus consists of mundane objects: clothes that have become outgrown or fallen out of fashion, cheap electronics received as gifts but never removed from their still-sealed packages, and chipped yet serviceable tableware. Useful things, given a second chance at life. Among these artifacts are objects first given to individuals who achieved feats and reached milestones worthy of note. Trophies made of bronze and marble (and later chromed plastic), tangible reminders of a job well done. From Best Dancer at a strip mall studio in 1997 to a man who had given his entire adult life in servitude to a company that fashioned brackets for wall-mounted shelving, a cheap trophy and hearty handshake signified that “you made it!”, even if “making it” amounted to little more than scoring a 110 average at a modest bowling alley in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

This exhibit features examples of these abandoned awards. Many were tossed into donation bins with their personalized plaques removed or defaced to the point of illegibility. In those cases, we can only guess at the recipient’s nature. Others retain their former owner’s identity, offering bittersweet glimpses into narratives past. These are presented here as gestures of remembrance for lives well lived.

Materials on display from a private collection.

Curated by Stephen Singer and Abigail Traska.