Lover’s Below: A BYO Art Exhibition

The Bakery Atlanta was excited to present Lover’s Below: A BYO Art Exhibition. This was an unjuried exhibition meaning everyone who submitted work was accepted. The theme was loosely love. 

The exhibit was on view Friday, February 13th - Sunday, February 22nd, 2026 at The Supermarket (638 North Highland Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30306). 

The opening reception was on Friday February 13th, 8pm-12am as a part of the larger Lover’s Below: Cosmic Crush event in partnership with The Supermarket.

Photo by Jordan Young

Featured Artists:

Abcent, Addison Ross, Aleece Bustamante, Ari Ogle, ArtyMcFlyATL, Ashley Handschumacher, Audrey Briggs, Big_Yeetvs, Calvin Alley, Claudia Rodríguez Llanos, Daniel Curran, Daniel Enrique Martinez, derarosa, Fritz&Lewis, Genevieve Fedele, Grace Mitchell, Greyson L Morey, Imanol Luquin, iolite eye, Jacqueline Evadne, Jess Lewis, Jessica Ross, Jhazzy Joiner, Keyla, Liliana Lines Creations, Limbs, Lyandrea, Margaux Erotica, Melanie Shaw, Nat Gunter, Nora H., Norangel Alvarez, Raven Levaine, Sheena Catherina Ilustre, Sloane Bates, Stephany, Taylor Young, Tree Lyiness, Wanda Morales

Lover’s Below featured a wide range of work with over 96 pieces by 41 artists. Our BYO Art unjuried exhibition model invited a wide range of experience, mediums, and perspectives into the gallery. This encapsulated The Bakery’s belief that art is pivotal to existence and that everyone should have opportunities to engage with art.

A favorite aspect of the show was the contrast between the darker art versus the light. With the theme of love being so loose, all aspects and elements of the work signified a  completed spectrum. 

As a curator I was challenged to create a cohesive show that highlighted each work's own unique take on love. 

I started with the back wall, investigating the use of light blues and pinks surrounded by Ashley Handschumacher’s “Candle Nocturne” casting a soft illumination around the work. Jessica Ross’ “Cosmic Love” also adorned the back wall as a spectacular emblem for the Cosmic Crush theme of the Lover’s Below event. 

In front of the back wall, three pedestals were placed adorned with beautiful ceramic works by Liliana Lines and Jaqueline Evadne. It felt important to place these pieces amongst the other still lifes on the back wall as a companion to the communion that they offer. Cups at a candle lit dinner, a warm mug while sitting on a comfortable chair. Through looking at the feeling that the still life environments on the wall offered, I wanted to extend that to the 3D objects and how loved ones might interact with them in their own spaces.  

Moving from the back, the gallery splits into hues of dark reds, oranges and yellows intensifying in feeling and vibe of the space. 

Aleece Bustamantes’ paintings “Body #1” and “Body #2” set the stage for this split in color and feeling. “Body #1” utilized abstraction through textured dark red hues while “Body #2” gave a soft ethereal feeling through its use of pastels and a more subtle textured colored palette of yellows, pinks, and light blues. It felt important to mirror these two works on opposite walls to further this exploration of lightness and darkness. 

Reaching around to the front of the space, aspects of pinks and greens become apparent. Tree Lyiness’ naturalistic “Pine Cone Hearts #1 & #2”,  served as anchors for the more salon-style feel of the front end of the space along with Claudia Rodriguez's "June", a beautifully mounted polymer clay piece.

As folks entered into the space they were also greeted by Jess Lewis’ investigative zine “The Only Way Out Is Through Vol 1: Utopia Through Grief”, which again battled this juxtaposition of love this time through their own experiences growing up in southern Appalachia. Beyond the subject matter, folks throughout opening night and the run of the show would gather around the pedestal and read the zine. This again served as a gathering space and moment of communion for participants.  

 With over 300 viewers visiting the gallery, the show was well received in its entirety. 

The unjuried BYO art model is a fun, interesting, and challenging approach to a show, creating an accessible opportunity to artists from all walks of life into the same room. The Bakery is grateful to everyone who participated and anyone who took the time to look at the amazing art and reflect on how it conceptualized love for you.