Meet Beau Allen Collins | Artist & Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Beau Allen Collins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Beau Allen, how do you think about risk?
I have always loved Ai Wei Wei’s quote, “If you don’t act, the danger becomes stronger.”

I love taking risks. For me, if there is anything I am even remotely interested in, I will try. I do fail – I fail often – but the failure is always within the task or opportunity at hand. Never have I felt that I’ve failed myself, or that the journey wasn’t worth the outcome. I believe the only true risk, is living without the intent of going after whatever it is that brings your soul fulfillment. You have to know what those things are and that requires quite a lot of failure, and tons of effort.

“Everything’s a risk. Not doing anything is a risk. It’s up to you.” -Nicola Yoon

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It was pretty early on when I realized my passions in life were centered creatively. I started playing bass guitar in middle school and was in and out of bands through high school. I was designing posters and album covers for both my band, as well as other bands around town. I began taking photographs of my band and the bands we’d play with as well which ultimately lead me to scholarship opportunities to be the first in my family to go to college.

I went to the School of Visual Arts in New York for photography & video and graduated in 2017. While in NYC, I found ways to explore creatively to learn as much as I could in a multitude of disciplines and mediums. I was doing everything from stage design at New York Fashion Week, creative direction for Hooliganradguitar5, lighting design and working as a gaffer for films, internships at the Whitney Museum of American Art, print and textile design for menswear labels, photographing concerts for multiple publications, press release writing for art gallery exhibitions, concept design for storefronts and interior layouts, and even assisting other artists and photographers such as Nir Arieli, Urs Fischer, and Tom Sachs. I was (and still am) obsessed with art and felt a deep rooted need to involve myself in every facet I could. After about 8 years in NYC, the Covid-19 pandemic hit leaving me jobless and forced me into a reset where I have sought new opportunities and to formulate my own identity as an artist.

I left NYC for Atlanta in 2021 after landing a roles as an actor in Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ (Season 4), as well as the FX show, ‘Atlanta.’ I have been doing custom framing, art archiving, and commission paintings since being here and am working on establishing my own studio and future brand endeavors. I’m excited to compile everything I’ve learned and will continue to learn into my own work and am extremely optimistic for the future!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am still learning spots around Atlanta but here are my favorites thus far:

Places:
High Museum of Art (The HIGH Frequency Fridays and Jazz Fridays are awesome too)
Landmark Art Cinema
Atlanta Contemporary
Mint Atlanta
Piedmont Park
Little Five Points
Ponce City Market
Krog Street Tunnel

Food:
Bon Ton Atlanta
KinNo Tori Ramen Bar
Apres Diem
Gaja Korean Bar
BeetleCat

Shop:
Wish Atlanta
Antidote
Design Within Reach
Ikea
A Ma Maniere
Virginia Highland Books
Drugstore Atlanta

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like dedicate this shoutout to my mother for supporting and encouraging me to reach for the stars. I came a long way for growing up with a single mother in the trailer park, and I think we were both able to overcome a lot of adversity that really prepared me for the life I lead now.

Website: beauallencollins.com (under-construction until fall 2022)

Instagram: @beauallencollins