YG15 Showcase: Beau Dillon Burrows

Shining the spotlight on this year's Young Guns winners

Young Guns 15, arguably the most prestigious portfolio-based competition for creatives under 30, is going out with a bang! This year's winners were unveiled last week, and it's safe to say that this is one of the most eclectically talented classes in Young Guns history. 

Next week is the traditional Young Guns ceremony and party, (you've scored your tickets, right?) and nearly all of this year's winners will be travelling from across the globe, across the country, or across the Williamsburg Bridge to attend. Ahead of the festivities, the One Club for Creativity is highlighting many of the winners you'll be able to meet.

BEAU DILLON BURROWS
Interactive Installation Artist
Based In: Brooklyn, NY
Originally from: Phoenix, AZ
futurewife.tv

SEE BEAU'S YG15 PROFILE + WORK

What does winning this award mean to you?

When I first moved to New York, I had the privilege of working as a VFX artist for Aaron Duffy, who won Young Guns 9 shortly after we met. I never thought of it as a goal of mine to be accepted into the Young Guns community, but I've always looked up to Aaron a great deal, so this is a very humbling experience for that reason.

What sorts of challenges have you encountered to get where you are today?

I feel that communication is such an important tool, not just in a collaborative setting, but also with yourself. I try to keep self criticism honest and unbiased, which is much easier said than done, usually.

"I feel that communication is such an important tool, not just in a collaborative setting, but also with yourself. I try to keep self criticism honest and unbiased, which is much easier said than done, usually."

Since Young Guns 15 allowed you to submit six projects for consideration, some self-curation was required. How did you decide what to enter?

I chose works that were the most fun to make, in hopes of that coming across when seeing them as a single body.

Can you name any past Young Guns winners who you look up to?

Aaron Duffy (YG9) and George Michael Brower (YG14) are two individuals I look up to. They both have incredibly sharp skill sets in very specific areas, and those areas are difficult to define, which is why I'm so drawn to their work and process.

What keeps you going, creatively speaking? What drives you and your work?

Those tacos at Los Hermanos Tortillaria Mexicana on Starr Street. I honestly think that eating those tacos releases some sort of imagination-activating hormone. I often get interesting ideas while eating their food. Not necessarily good ideas, but always interesting. And the prospect of eating more tacos is often a strong motivating force to work harder so that I will be hungrier. I'm dead serious about those tacos.

Now that you’re a Young Guns winner, what’s next?

I recently opened a 13,000 square-foot collective studio called Future Space with Dave & Gabe, Gamma Digital Fabrication, Young Buk Art Services, Super A-OK, and George Michael Brower, so I'm very excited to do more work as a localized collective! Having so many incredibly talented people under one roof is both humbling and empowering, so I can't wait to see how far we can push and mix our mediums as an aligned force. Come say hi!

Beau and his fellow winners will be honored at the Young Guns 15 Ceremony + Party, taking place on Thursday, November 16 at Highline Stages in Manhattan's Meatpacking District. 

Young Guns 15 is presented in proud partnership with Shutterstock, Levene/Leavitt and MTV.

GET TICKETS