MassArt student Julie Nguyen ’25 turns her love of decorative cakes into a booming business with Fake Cakery.
Julie Nguyen, the artist and founder behind Fake Cakery
Written by Rachael Dubinsky
Graduating fourth-year student Julie Nguyen, BFA ‘25 Film/Video, didn’t set out to go to art school, or create a business from scratch for that matter. In fact, her high school didn’t offer any art classes. In high school while working at a bakery, she found herself making short food-related videos. It wasn’t until she decided culinary school and the restaurant business weren’t in her future that she found Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt), where she thought she would get a film degree and go into food media. However, life however had other plans.
During her time at the bakery, she was drawn to the “fake cakes” that were on display to market the business. Julie started making these “fake cakes” with spackling, paint, foam and other materials for fun, but what she found was there was a real demand for her creations online. Little did she know, what started as a way to get rid of the “clutter” in her mom’s house would become a booming business, practically overnight.
“I put my “fake cakes” on Depop (a clothing selling website) under the home decor section and the items sold out,” said Julie. “Then I put them on Instagram and started taking pictures and making reels that were garnering millions of views. I was selling out of “fake cakes” faster than I could make them. That’s when I started doing themed collections and product drops.”
Fake Cakery inventory. Photo by Julie Nguyen
The reception for Nothing Is Edible: The Mini Mart, Julie’s senior thesis exhibition at MassArt, included a pop-up by Fake Cakery and featured sculptures, films, and interactive installations that explore food through memories, culture, and nostalgia. Photo by Dario St. Luc
Her business, Fake Cakery, became more than just a passion project, it was a full-time job. That’s when Julie decided to enroll in the Creative Economy Business Incubator Program, knowing she needed to be surrounded by peers who were also navigating the challenges that come along with a rapidly growing business.
“I formed so many connections with other artists, creators, and professionals that really helped me build confidence in talking about my business,” Julie shared. “That was a game changer as I was figuring out how to maintain my voice and focus on my goals for the business.”
Now, Julie works with national brands like Live Nation and Sony, while still doing exclusive product drops for the masses. She recently launched a new project, Nothing is Edible, that focuses on the motivation behind her creative venture.
Using her knowledge from building the Fake Cakery brand, Julie wants to focus her new brand on community. Her goal is to keep creating products that have multiple functions and make a more direct connection to her story.
“It’s all about taking the first steps,” Julie shared. “There are tons of resources available at MassArt and within the creative community, and I feel fortunate to be building my dream business.”
Fake Cakery inventory. Photo by Julie Nguyen
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