Daily Inspiration: Meet Leah Abucayan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Abucayan.

Hi Leah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
Hello! I’m Leah, also known as hellaLEAH. By day, I’m a graphic designer, and by night, I’m a multimedia artist. I’m best known for my duct tape portraiture and murals. 

I grew up in Northern California, the youngest of three children in a Filipino-American household with immigrant parents from the Philippines. Now, I live in Atlanta with my talented photographer husband and our amazing Frenchton, PePè. 

My artistic journey began in childhood, inspired by traveling around Europe as an Air Force brat when my dad was stationed in Germany. Visiting iconic places like the Sistine Chapel left a lasting impression on me. I used to ask my mom to paint Barney on the ceiling, and now I essentially do that for a living—painting walls and getting paid for it. 

I pursued Graphic Design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Currently, I work as a designer for the CNN Digital Art Department. I previously interned at Walt Disney Imagineering, where I designed print collateral and environmental signage for Disney parks, resorts, and cruise lines. My love for art started early and truly took shape at age 11 when I started a small business crafting purses, bags, and wallets out of duct tape. Today, I still use duct tape, but now it’s my medium for creating custom portraits. 

My art encompasses murals, chalk art, brand design, duct tape portraits, illustration, and even home renovations. My mission is to make a positive impact on the world and inspire others with my art and passion for design. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Is the road ever smooth? I believe what shapes your character and substance is facing obstacles, discovering yourself through unexpected pathways, and adapting to struggles. 

One pivotal moment for me was being accepted into Disney’s Yellow Shoes professional internship years ago. I was ecstatic to fulfill my childhood dream of designing for Disney, but unfortunately, I lost that internship due to being short by just three college credits. I was devastated and doubted I would ever get a similar opportunity again. With determination and tears in my eyes, I returned to school to complete my remaining credits, hoping for another chance. After finally earning my associate’s degree, my graduation coincided with the first day of my new internship at Walt Disney Imagineering. This turned out to be an even better opportunity than the one at Disney’s Yellow Shoes. 

My initial disappointment transformed into determination, opening better doors for me. Those years designing for Disney parks, resorts, and cruise lines were some of the best of my life. You can still see some of my designs in the parks today, including logos used behind the scenes in the Disney Test Kitchen and environmental displays at the Ganachery chocolate shop in Disney Springs. I extended my internship three times but eventually moved on as they couldn’t offer a full-time position. 

Through this journey, I learned that even with all the determination in the world, things don’t always go as planned for reasons beyond our comprehension. Accept setbacks, and don’t let them stop you from continuing your journey and creating new goals because new pathways and opportunities may be waiting just for you. 

Fast forward eight years post-internship, while living in Atlanta and working as a graphic designer for CNN, Disney called me back with an opportunity to paint a mural at Disney Springs. It was a surprising and exciting opportunity that brought me back to being that kid who dreamed of designing for Disney. I couldn’t be happier. 

The moral of the story is to keep going, always put your best foot forward, and opportunities will eventually fall into place. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My slogan or tagline is “I just like to make stuff.” This has been true throughout my life; since I was a kid, I’ve always incorporated creativity and resourcefulness into my work. My art takes many forms, from corporate digital design and branding to my passion projects, which usually consist of duct tape portraits and murals. I’ve also dabbled in children’s book illustration, home renovations, and chalk art. 

What sets me apart in the large art community in my area is my prominent use of duct tape as a medium. While duct tape is a common household item, it’s definitely not a common medium for art. I’ve been able to take my passion for this unconventional crafting and create a platform that combines my career as a graphic designer with my love for creating durable and public art pieces. 

My murals, in particular, hold a special place in my heart. They allow me to transform spaces and engage with the community on a larger scale. Each mural project is an opportunity to bring vibrant, large-scale art to public spaces, making art accessible to everyone. 

How do you define success?
To me, success isn’t measured by dollars, the number of projects, or the awards one receives. It’s about achieving your goals and surpassing your own expectations, doing more than you ever thought possible. Success means making a meaningful impact on others or inspiring even just one person (like making someone feel seen or represented or sparking important conversations through your art). 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hellaleah.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellaleah

Image Credits
David Cook
LensTrooper Broadcast
ATL Bruce Johnson
Gwinett Daily Post