Beacon Artists Union (BAU) has been around the block—specifically, a few of them along Main Street. Founded in 2004, back when Beacon was still better known for cheap rents and Dia’s gravitational pull than artisanal cider or boutique wellness brands, BAU helped lay the groundwork for the city’s art-forward transformation.
Now, 21 years in, the artist-run gallery has nabbed Chronogram’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards in the Art Gallery and Arts Organization categories, and if you think the old dog is content to nap in the sun, think again.
“There’s a ton of energy here,” says board member George Kimmerling. “It feels like a new moment.” Indeed, a generational refresh has brought in new members like Kimmerling and Soli Pierce, who are steering the ship toward greater collaboration, expanded programming, and deeper community ties.
Upcoming highlights include an all-juried group show in August and a solo exhibition by Margaret Inga Urias during Upstate Art Weekend—a graphic, astronomy-inspired meditation on space and systems, built from translucent glass and ink-drenched paper.
Beyond traditional shows, BAU is doubling down on what it calls its five pillars: collaborative curatorial work, performance and multidisciplinary events, community engagement, a commitment to excellence in fine art, and inclusive promotion of the broader Beacon art scene. “We want the gallery experience to rival any in the city—or anywhere, really,” says Kimmerling.
That ambition will be on display during Upstate Art Weekend, with zine workshops, artist talks, and the launch of a new interactive program, What Do You See?, inviting visitors to decode and discuss the art with gallery members. It’s participatory, it’s democratic, it’s exactly what BAU has always aimed to be—just with better lighting and a stronger Instagram game.
Two decades in, BAU isn’t resting on its laurels. It’s burning them to keep the fires of experimentation and community stoked.
Related Stories
This article appears in July 2025.
