Inspired by the international flavors on Buford Highway, this mural showcases how food can bring people together from different countries and cultures. Regardless of the country one is from, there are some similarities in food and a shared language of love when it comes to sharing a meal. In Leah’s Filipino background, they have a special feast known as Boodle fight or Kamayan where all the food is eaten on a banana leaf with your hands. This tradition is symbolic of how we share our cultures together, so Leah incorporates a banana leaf which consists of cuisines from all over the world.
Leah Abucayan is a Filipino-American artist based out of Atlanta, GA who finds joy in making stuff. She studied Graphic Design at the Academy of Art University of San Francisco. She currently works as a designer for the CNN Digital Art Department. Previously, she interned at Walt Disney Imagineering designing print collateral and environmental signage for Walt Disney parks, resorts, and cruise lines. Her love for art began at a very young age. Her art journey really began to take shape when she was 11 and had started her own little business crafting purses, bags, and wallets out of duct tape. Today she still uses duct tape, but now she uses it as a medium for creating custom portraits. Her art has taken many forms from murals to chalk art, to brand design, to duct tape portraits, to illustration, and home renovations. Her mission is to make a positive impact on the world and inspire others with her art and passion for design.
“The thing I absolutely love about food is it’s a common thread that connects us no matter what culture we come from.”