Computing Staffer Enters the Ring with Wrestling Photo Exhibit at the Fulton County Library
For most people, wrestling conjures images of body slams, roaring crowds, and neon costumes. For Kevin Beasley, it's something else entirely. For him, wrestling is an art form.
"When I see wrestling, I see a timeless high art form," said Beasley, a photographer and videographer with the College of Computing. "It is high-risk ballet mixed with theatrics and storytelling turned up to eleven."
Beasley is the Fulton County Library System's featured artist-in-residence for November.
Highlights from nearly a decade of his work photographing independent wrestling are part of a new exhibit, Kevin Beasley and Friends.
The multimedia exhibit is on display now through February 2026 at the Central Library branch. It features work by Beasley and other local visual artists passionate about independent wrestling.
"It's all play. It's silly, ridiculous, over the top—and that's what makes independent wrestling beautiful," Beasley said.
The exhibit uses the spectacle of the wrestling ring to draw more attention to the library. One of Beasley's goals is to raise awareness of the library's resources for the community. Beyond books, he points to digital libraries, computer access, educational training, and other services that the library offers.
"The library is a free resource — it's one of the last truly public spaces. What I'm trying to do is promote less consumerism. I want to achieve this through wrestling," said Beasley, who served in the U.S. Navy as a Logistics Specialist.
Beasley is eager to keep promoting the library. He imagines creating fun video promos filmed in the library, where costumed wrestlers stop someone shopping online to remind them, "Don't buy that—check it out from the library!"
The journey to this exhibit, and his fascination with visual arts and storytelling, began after Beasley's active-duty service, which included a tour in Japan. Following his honorable discharge in 2016, he found a job with the U.S. Forest Service in Portland, Oregon.
"I'd been hearing the Forest Service needed photo and video of the national forests," he said.
"That pushed me to study multimedia journalism—and I fell in love with it."
Beasley used the GI Bill benefits from his military service to pursue a master's degree at the University of Oregon. As he looked for subject matter for a video assignment, he discovered Portland's independent wrestling scene.
"It sounded absurd," he said with a laugh. "But it turned out to be full of characters and visually captivating moments."
From this encounter, Beasley went on to produce his graduate documentary about the Portland wrestling scene, which was screened at film festivals across the West Coast.
While studying his new field academically, Beasley also honed his practical skills. He worked as a freelance and full-time photographer, videographer, and producer in Portland and Dayton, Ohio.
He also taught an online digital media course as a part-time adjunct faculty member at Northern Kentucky University.
It didn't take Beasley long to find Atlanta's independent wrestling scene when he moved to the city in 2022 to work at Georgia Tech. On almost any weekend, he says, fans can find a local match, even Lucha Libre. These matches feature professional Mexican wrestlers and are announced entirely in Spanish.
"Photographing those shows has been a great way to practice my language comprehension skills," he said.
At Georgia Tech, Beasley captures everything from campus portraits to candid research moments, often with the same curiosity that drives his personal projects. His video work spotlighting Georgia Tech’s tennis robot and the Tech’s role in the Wild Dolphin Project earned more than 35,000 views and international media coverage.
“Kevin’s ‘secret sauce’ is the blend of creativity, intuition, and genuine curiosity he brings to every assignment,” said LaDonna Cherry, creative services assistant director, and Beasley’s supervisor.
“What truly sets him apart is his instinct for storytelling through imagery — he doesn’t just take photos; he finds the narrative within them. He consistently delivers work that goes beyond expectations and adds real value to the College’s visual identity.”
When he’s not working or attending wrestling matches, Beasley regularly volunteers his photographic services at community events. He shoots and prints free portraits on-the-spot for families at his "pop-up” photo booth.
For Beasley, photography isn't about perfection, prestige, or pay—it's about connection.
"Wrestling fans are fanatics," he said.
"They're passionate, they're loud, and they find so much joy in something a lot of people might consider stupid. But if you look closely, it's pure storytelling—and that's what makes it worth capturing."
