In "Tethered Ascension," a hopeful little black squiggle is caught in the act of trying to rise, like a balloon that forgot it’s still tied to the ground. The sky-blue backdrop is all calm and serene, as if saying, "Sure, you’ve got this!" while the bold red stripe is the visual equivalent of a motivational speaker yelling, "Go big or go home!" The plus sign at the bottom right is there to remind you that every time you add something to your plate, you’re just one step closer to a complete meltdown. This piece perfectly captures the struggle of trying to ascend while being hilariously tethered to reality—like when you aim high but still need to pick up the dry cleaning.