The glitz and glamor of a glowing neon sign can draw one’s eye from miles away. Artist Beau Dunn is an expert in the neon medium and her tongue-in-cheek approach to art provides commentary on society in glowing and irresistible tubes of color. A well-known portion of Dunn’s repertoire is comprised of sculptures made out of intricately thin neon letters, with phrases like “NEED MORE MONEY FOR BIRKIN” or “NEED MORE MONEY FOR REAL ESTATE.” The series is the epitome of advertising, capitalism, indulgence, and luxury. Dunn’s newest series, “Next Generation” continues her work in neon sculptures. With updated phrases like “NEED MORE MONEY FOR TOILET PAPER” and “NEED MORE MONEY FOR FACE MASKS,” Dunn truly shows the irony and truth of the shift we all experienced this year when essentials turned into commodities. On top of on-point social commentary, “Next Generation” is also in collaboration with eBay for Charity, with a portion of all proceeds benefiting UNICEF USA’s COVID-relief efforts and help provide front-line responders and families in need with resources to keep children healthy and safe during the pandemic. Beau Dunn’s art shows us that art not only inspires, art heals.

Outside of the studio and gallery, Dunn tends to spend most of her time with animals. She was recently named Global Ambassador of Road Dogs & Rescue a non-profit that rescues bulldog breeds, medical dogs, seniors, and special needs puppies. She has always had such a big heart for animals and now gets to help dogs who need a little extra love and attention. Beau is also on the board of The Sanctuary At Soledad, where she is pictured in our cover photos! To read more about Beau’s life as an artist and learn more about her work in animal advocacy in our exclusive interview below.

Where are you based?
I was born and raised in Beverly Hills, California, and currently still live there.

What inspired you to get into art?
My parents are big contemporary art collectors and I became interested in art at a very early age. I first started taking art classes in elementary school and loved it. I found that creating art was a form of therapy and a way to communicate what I was feeling.

Can you talk to us about your journey to become an artist and entrepreneur?
Both art and entrepreneurship were a part of my upbringing. Although I’ve created art for as long as I can remember, it wasn’t until I studied sculpture at Pepperdine University that I was able to really start conceptualizing different series. Pepperdine's art program was an amazing creative outlet for me. Their program allowed me to experiment without judgment.

As for being an entrepreneur, both my father and grandfather were entrepreneurs and it's something that I have always been drawn to. Similar to creating art, as an entrepreneur you have a vision, self-discipline, and creativity. There is a rush that comes with finding a new opportunity and building a team that can help make your ideas come to life.

Jejune loves your art, it is so unique and contemporary. Where do you get your inspiration from?
Thank you so much! I get inspiration from daily life. I feel my artwork is a commentary on society as a whole - it is very tongue-in-cheek. Growing up in Beverly Hills there was this constant pressure to pursuit perfection, and I believe my artwork reflects that pressure.

Your series “Next Generation”, is particularly interesting. Can you tell us a little bit about what inspired this collection?
"Next Generation" is a series I created in 2016 as a social commentary on modern-day consumerism. It originally started in the medium of collage with life-size children holding signs begging for money for luxurious items. On the signs, I replaced basic everyday items that are truly needed for survival - like water, food, and shelter, with luxurious items like a Hermes Birkin Handbag, Botox, Real Estate, and Art. The Next Generation series touches heavily on consumerism and the pressures society as a whole puts on us.

You have been using neon as a medium for your more recent work. What inspired you to start working with this medium.
I felt neon was the perfect medium to evolve my series. In the 1930s and 1940s, the neon sign was a symbol of new advertising, luxury, and glamour. The attractive glow of glass-filled lights overran cities like New York and defined areas like Times Square. Neon as a material holds historic cultural significance, and by using it as a medium I reflect on social agendas that are often at play in contemporary life.

You have recently expanded your “Next Generation” collection with a partnership with eBay UNICEF. This new set of pieces feels a bit more serious, with signs saying: “NEED MONEY FOR FACE MASKS”, than the rest of your work. Can you please tell us a little bit about this new collection and why it is so important? -Do you feel that face masks, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper are the new luxuries of 2020?
The world has completely changed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. As I watched the news, what caught my attention was the mass scramble and the “panic buy” for basic items like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and face masks. With this drastic world shift, I took some time to reflect on my Next Generation series, as I never thought I would see a day where essentials were the new luxury items. The latest addition to my neon series represents this moment in history -- a reflection on what is needed to survive in our current day.

How do you think this pandemic will further influence your art? -We love that a percentage of the proceeds of this collection are going to UNICEF USA's COVID-19 response. Can you tell us a little bit about why you decided to partner with UNICEF on this and why this is important to you?
Art is a reflection of society and my latest neon sculptures are definitely a reflection of the 2020 global pandemic. I am honored that through my art I had the opportunity to give back and support UNICEF USA. Through the money raised, we were able to help provide front-line responders and families in need with resources to keep children healthy and safe during the pandemic.

Quarantine has certainly caused a major shift in the way the public interacts with art, especially in public spaces like galleries and museums. Has the pandemic impacted you as an artist?
The pandemic has made me slow down, which is something I rarely do. I’ve had the opportunity to reflect and create new works - I’ve even tried working with new mediums. And as both an artist and an art collector it’s been really interesting to witness the art world shift. Although I do miss going to galleries, museums and fairs, there is an incredible amount of art that can be viewed and purchased online.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists during this time?
My advice to all artists is to keep going. We are all going through this hard time together. I believe everyone is trying their personal best and everything will work out in the end. Overcoming the hard times is what makes us stronger.

We are obsessed with our new cover editorial with you! It is very clear how much you love animals. Can you tell us a little bit about this shoot and if you have a favorite animal from the day?
This shoot was very special to me because I was surrounded by the animals that I love so much. I became aware of the non-profit organization, The Sanctuary At Soledad, while walking through The Grove shopping center in LA one day. Once I learned about their mission and all the animals they had saved and still needed to save, I knew I wanted to get involved. I shared my passion for animals, vision and ideas with the founders and was asked to be a board member. With the founders, we were able to create new opportunities to get people involved and raise funds for the animals.

In connection to animals, we are also so excited about you recently becoming a Global Ambassador for Road Dogs and Rescue. Can you tell us a little bit about this organization and how your love for animals aligns with their mission?
Road Dogs & Rescue is a nonprofit based in Southern California that rescues bulldog breeds. Their primary focus is rescuing complicated medical dogs, seniors and special needs puppies they call them the “Loveable Lemons”. I love everything Road Dogs stands for - especially the rescue and education aspect. They take such good care of their bulldogs and saving as many animals as possible is my number one priority. I feel so connected to these “Lovable Lemons” and am so excited to help raise awareness and hopefully help them achieve their goals of building a sanctuary.

What positive impact do you think social media can have when it comes to helping animals with special needs?
Social Media can be a huge asset to special needs animals. It gives people like, Nikki Carvey, the founder of Road Dogs and Rescue, a platform to share these adorable dogs' stories and for people to connect with them and see their beauty regardless of what part of the world they live in. Social media is brilliant at bringing people together for a meaningful cause.

We couldn’t help but notice that your own dogs have a social media following of their own (they’re so cute!). Can you tell us a little bit about them?
My husband and I have two male French bulldogs, French and Finn and they are our entire world! In addition to French and Finn, we recently adopted Flash, a one-year-old French bulldog, from my husband's sister who is caught up overseas due to the COVID-19 pandemic. French Bulldogs have such unique, quirky personalities, and they are the highlight of our life. We are proud dog parents and could not imagine life without them.

Pet adoption in the United States soared at the beginning of the pandemic and many rescues and shelters saw a lot of pets go to their forever homes. Why do you think it’s important for pet-seekers to consider rescuing? A hot debate right now is concerning the “adopt don’t shop” mentality. What are your thoughts?
I honestly do not judge when people adopt or shop. I think it’s important that when people get their furry friend that they do their due diligence and find a pet that works best for their lifestyle. If adopting, I suggest fostering a dog and making sure it's the right fit in your home, and making sure you have the foundation to care for the animal. If someone shops, I also suggest doing a deep dive and making sure it's a reputable breeder. I don’t like to shame people for their decisions. What works well for some may not be the best for others. What is most important is that you provide a loving forever home.

How are you staying positive during a shelter in place?
I did three months of quarantine in my husband's home country of New Zealand and if was honestly so peaceful. I spent a lot of time outdoors, going on hikes and walking the beach. Once I got back to the states, I was a little taken aback by the frantic energy, but like everyone else, I found ways to make the most of it. I found a love for cooking and started sharing my kitchen adventures on Instagram and it turns out people enjoy my little cooking series as much as I do. I get to be completely myself, bloopers and all.

What is your motto in life?
Enjoy every moment. And whenever possible, surround yourself with cute fluffy animals - a good fluffy animal squeeze is a moment of pure happiness and we all deserve to be happy:)

To learn more about Beau Dunn, please follow her via the below platforms:
www.beaudunn.com
www.beaudunnart.com
Instagram: beaudunn and beaudunnart

Team Credits:
Photography: Anais Ganouna
Styling: Statement Style Group
Make-up: Michael Byron
Hair: Nikki Lee

Cover: Beau Dunn - Art Heals