Ever argued about who left dishes in the sink (again)? From September 4–6, New Yorkers came face-to-face with that very argument—reimagined as high art.

At Satellite Gallery on the Lower East Side, an eight-foot-tall sculpture of dirty dishes stopped people in their tracks. 

Our Dirty Dishes: Echoes of the Everyday, commissioned by Paired and created by multidisciplinary artist Ioana Aron, was equal parts playful and chaotic—just like love itself.

From the kitchen sink to the gallery floor

Stacked precariously high with plates, pots, and utensils spilling from an oversized sink, the installation captured something bigger than chores. It showed how the little things we leave undone can quietly pile up into mountains of frustration.

“It’s an Eiffel Tower of domestic resentment. A Leaning Tower of Plates, Pots and Passive Aggression,” said Kevin Shanahan, CEO of Paired. “From dirty dishes to hogging the bathroom, we all test our partners’ patience. This sculpture reminds us that we can all do better.”

When art hits close to home

This wasn’t just something to look at—it was something to listen to. The piece included an immersive sound installation featuring anonymous voice notes from real couples, submitted through Paired. Visitors overheard confessions about mental load, emotional labor, and the everyday negotiations that shape a relationship.

If that all sounds a little too familiar, you’re not alone. According to a Paired survey of 1,209 users, nearly two-thirds (65%) said arguments over household chores make them less in the mood for sex, and almost 1 in 5 (18%) admitted they’ve even thought about breaking up over it.

Relationship coach and Paired’s Head of Relationships, Aly Bullock, put it simply:
“The push and pull of two worlds merging into one is often most noticeable through the mundane—dirty dishes left too long, laundry left unfolded. When these moments of friction go unresolved, a partnership can suddenly feel very lonely. This sculpture is a reminder to heed such moments and treat them with care.”

Messy love, tidy solutions

At Paired, we were thrilled to see couples walk through the exhibition, laugh at the pile of plates, and whisper, “That’s us.” Because while life will always be messy, your relationship doesn’t have to be.

That’s where Paired comes in—with daily prompts, weekly check-ins, games, and expert-backed advice to help couples tackle the mental load before it turns into a mountain.

Our Dirty Dishes: Echoes of the Everyday may have come down, but the conversation it started is just getting bigger.