Rising Stars: Meet Kevin Beasley of West End

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Beasley.

Hi Kevin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a visual artist based in Atlanta Georgia. Most of my work centers around documenting subcultures of America (wrestling, demolition derbies, barbershop culture, etc.) and seeing the unique and beautiful people and corners of this country. Photo and video are my main avenues, but I’m also a growing motion graphics animator and have made works reflecting social commentary on emerging technology. My most recent exhibition was a group show that I curated called GeorgiaMania: Wrestling Art From the South.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road can be bumpy and it’s non linear. There are times the road is smooth though, and I think learning to appreciate being on a road at all has been helping me on this artist journey. I’ll take a dirt path in the direction I want to go over pristine asphalt following an untrue direction and it’s been so fun to see where that path leads.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
For the past year my personal work has focused on the independent wrestling scene in Georgia. I’ve been fortunate enough to photograph some amazing productions, including Mucha Lucha (Norcross) Classic City Wrestling (Athens) and Wold of Lucha Libre (Pendergrass) and I just recently put on a group art exhibition at the Fulton County Central Library focused on these works. Hands down that exhibition (GeorgiaMania: Wrestling Art from the South) is the thing I’m most proud of. I was able to put up photographs of wrestling (in a library mind you) with other artists that I find so talented. Shout out to Matt Watkins (@mister.watkins.photo) De’Mariae Roberston-Nettles (intrface_) Allie Mac (ohsnapalliemac) and Rachel Burnham (by_moosh) who all had work in the show.

Next, I’m looking to collaborate and take on photography projects outside of wrestling, so reach out if you feel you are a part of a subculture around Atlanta that wants to be documented! It may sound strange, but I have a big interest in exploring the relationships people have with their lawnmowers, especially in the rural south, so that might be my next exhibit.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Relationships have been the most important thing to my success, as well as the ability to try something new, deal with looking like a fool, and then try again to make it better. As a photographer though, the relationships and report I build with my subjects are something I take a lot of pride and care in.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kevinbeasleycreative.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/not_kevin_beasley/

Image Credits
All images by Kevin Beasley