This past weekend, the gallery at The Supermarket ATL displayed an array of works by fifteen local artists during the ‘AWAKENING’ exhibit curated by Laura Leigh Funk.
The exhibition called for artists to consider what awakening means to them as well as anyone who experiences the artwork during the opening. In the exhibition’s brief, Funk posited that awakening can be associated with season’s change into spring, growing in consciousness, and sexual awakenings, among other inspirations.
I recently had the opportunity to speak with Funk about what motivates her, the exhibition, and what it’s like to work as a multidisciplinary creative; Funk is an artist, an actor, and curator.
Hi Laura! Thanks for taking some time to chat with me. Can you tell me a bit about your personal artwork?
Funk: At this moment in my life, I am realizing that my Self and my artist self are inseparable— one cannot exist without the other, bound together as a single, indivisible existence. What keeps me tethered between this world and another is creating art that catalyzes contemplation and speaks a paradoxical comfort to those who know pain, sorrow, and grief.
I hope that when others encounter my work, they feel known in the feelings that most turn away from–these dark, deep, heavy, and complex feelings that are ultimately and simply, human.
All is not lost, and I hope that through noticing the profound meaning in life from death, the tiny miracles that unceasingly resurrect all around us, that we can find moments of joy, hope, and beauty that can keep us connected and afloat. I am making this world a more authentic and meaningful place by expressing myself and calling a society, an audience, anyone who encounters my art, to a deeper place of existence.
I am not here for indulgence or escape. But to feel it all and invite others to do the same.
How has your love for art impacted your career?
Funk: Creativity has shaped every chapter of my life. As the daughter of an actor and a pianist, I began my artistic journey at age ten, joining my mother on stage in community theater in my hometown of Mobile, Alabama. From that moment, the spotlight felt like a portal to heaven.
I earned university scholarships for oboe performance but took an adventurous detour, moving to Orlando to work for a famous mouse named Mickey. Though my path wasn’t traditional, I am now completing my BFA in Film, Media, and Theatre with a minor in Acting as a senior undergraduate student.
For the past two decades, I have primarily been a performing artist, working for the Walt Disney Company, collaborating on various artistic projects, and performing in theaters across the cities I’ve called home. As a singer and musician, I’ve spent countless hours rehearsing and performing—whether at open mic nights, jazz concerts, or with orchestras.
My love for visual art has always been present finding joy in drawing, animating, designing, photography, videography, and painting. In Atlanta, I discovered sculpting under the mentorship of Susan Krause and was immediately captivated by the tactile nature of clay.
It became another language for me—one through which I could express emotions, thoughts, and stories in a way words never could.
Today, as a multidisciplinary artist, I embrace every medium that allows me to create, connect, and communicate. This exhibit reflects that lifelong journey—one of exploration, expression, and an insatiable passion for the arts. Looking ahead, I hope to begin an MFA program in the fall of 2026, continuing to expand and hone my artistic journey and creative expression.
Can you expound upon the importance and relevance of the theme of Awakening, and why is it pertinent now perhaps more than ever?
Funk: In a fast-moving world where so many cope with substances, technology, cheap escapes, and numbing devices, we have progressed quicker than we have evolved, and we need to be intentional about what we consume: by what we put in our spirit.
We are living, yet dying, and ever evolving if we choose to lean into what it means to be alive. We need to witness one another. To hold up mirrors for the other and know that we are inextricably connected with our fellow living things.
If one pays attention, there will be moments of awakening throughout life. We just have to be brave enough and wise enough to accept the invitation. And sometimes, when we are hardened and stubborn, there isn’t one. Moments that will disorient, dismantle, strip away, and bring us to reckon with this wildly beautiful, precious, difficult, painful, joy-filled life.
With every awakening I have had, I look for others who have accepted this invitation. I often find them to be the artists of the world, for who could bear the weight and sorrow and turn it into such beauty if not artists?
I am thankful to each and every artist who participated in this exhibit. There were a dozen local Atlanta artists featured. And I am grateful for the support of my project assistant for this exhibition, Ella Holloway.
Were you inspired by any awakenings of your own when conceiving this exhibition?
Funk: Yes, I will try to nutshell this in words, although I would much rather express it through art…
As I exit young adulthood and enter another stage of life, my faith has shifted. My grasp of what life is and means—who I thought I was—has shed like an exoskeleton or a cocoon. I no longer fit in my past life. I have seen something new without seeing it at all, and yet I cannot unsee it. I cannot unknow that I must move forward. And as much as I miss the comfort and security of knowing; that place no longer exists.
My consciousness has been disruptively calling, in tandem with another voice apart from myself—yet the most intimate voice, present inside me since I can remember. I find myself searching for artists, poets, authors—anyone who has experienced this part of being both human and divine—sensing, somehow, that whatever this is, it is so much bigger than we realize. That every mundane moment holds transcendent magic and every trouble will fade into Love—Love that is bigger than time, place, and space. We are finite, yet infinite.
The author Dr. James Hollis said it succinctly: “To engage with the summons of our souls is to step into the deepest ocean, uncertain whether we will be able to swim to some new, distant shore. And yet, until we have consented to swim beyond the familiar lights of the port left behind, we will never arrive at a newer shore. For some, the entry is gradual; others are pushed suddenly into deep waters.”
What do you hope that visitors would take away from their experience once they see the show in person?
Funk: If someone is experiencing a moment of awakening, for them to know, that there are others who have gone before them and will come behind them. This is what it means to be human. We are not alone.
I see that you are both an artist, a curator, and an actor. How do these different ventures overlap in your artistic career? Do you benefit from experiences in one realm when working in the others?
Funk: Being an empath and deep feeler, I find that acting has been my greatest release. Being an actor, I must know myself, be comfortable with the spectrum of human emotion, and be able to access those feelings. Meeting and portraying characters and telling stories different from my own through acting has given me a softer and more inclusive perspective, allowing me to embrace nuance and create space for the experiences of others. I have found beauty and meaning in places I wouldn’t have even thought to look.
Through exploring motivation and intention, origin and context, emotion and thought, I have learned to express my own humanity more easily and fluidly through other creative outlets. I hope to continue finding new ways to overlap and explore these creative facets of myself.
Can you tell me about how the opening for ‘AWAKENING’ was received at The Supermarket?
Funk: The art exhibit was an incredible success, with over 170 visitors exploring the gallery throughout the weekend — and an unforgettable turnout on opening night! It was truly heartwarming to see the community come together, connecting with the captivating artwork and the talented artists behind it. The energy in the space was electric, and the thoughtful conversations sparked by the pieces made the experience even more memorable.
The Supermarket was the perfect venue with multiple galleries and spaces for guests to explore in addition to the AWAKENING exhibition. I’m excited to announce plans for another exhibit in early fall and can’t wait to continue building connections and celebrating Atlanta’s vibrant art scene.
