Project #4 began with a simple (and mildly unhinged) challenge: take random, found, upcycled materials—the kind of stuff most people wouldn’t think twice about throwing away—and force them into a tiny Christmas ornament. Not decorate the ornament. Not hang it. Stuff an entire character inside it.

I wanted to create a piece (a robot) using recycled items, found objects, and more for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In this process, I also wanted to challenge myself and take on several more requirements.

Explore 'The Robot, The Butterfly, and the Lantern', an artwork for autism awareness. Dive into the symbols of autism and support autism research today.

My very first build project started as a simple challenge to create a robot from recycled materials quickly became something more. With no plan, no expectations, and a mandarin fruit cup at its center, a small robot emerged—along with an unexpected purpose. Born during Lunar New Year and shaped by chance, Luck-E the Mandarin marked the start of a creative journey where discarded objects became meaning, story, and art.