The wheels of creativity and camaraderie have been turning ever since Lucas Beaufort, a French artist deeply entrenched in the skateboarding world, found himself confined during the tumultuous times of 2020. Amidst the global pause, Beaufort's journey took an introspective pivot as he sought to illuminate the vibrant history of skate shops across the globe through his project, Heart.

The photo book contains 428 pages and stories about skate shops everywhere. Beaufort was the curator, working remotely with photographers and more to pull together this contemporary historical record.

As restrictions eased, Beaufort's passion led him on a tour through Japan, Europe, and now, the U.S.; That includes Austin's famous No-Comply Skateshop on April 26. There, he'll set up a temporary art exhibit, drawing artists, skaters, and enthusiasts into the store to meet each other and check it out.

This tour isn't just a celebration of the skate shops themselves, but communal events that honor the people, artists, and musicians who are the lifeblood of these spaces.

In an interview with CultureMap, Beaufort shares the beginnings of this ambitious undertaking, a venture that began with a simple outreach to his friends who were skate shop owners and blossomed into a worldwide documentation of skate culture.

See Beaufort and other visitors starting with an opening event from 6-9 pm on Friday, April 26, 2024. The shop is making announcements as it confirms visits with friends; Follow along on Instagram from more information as it's announced.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

CultureMap: What inspired you to create Heart and embark on this journey of documenting skate shop history worldwide?

Lucas Beaufort: “Everything started through COVID time: 2020. I was stuck at home like everybody. All my events were canceled, and I was depressed — so, so sad, because I'm a big traveler. So, thought about my friends who run skate shops around the world, and I reached out to them. I started to send some emails like, ‘Would you be down to be involved with this book?’ It took me from March 2020 to the end of the year. [After the release] I was like, What can I do? Because I'm still in love with the skate shops and the culture. What about meeting all the shops that are involved in the book for real?

I started to do a tour in Japan last year in April, and then last summer I did Europe; Now I'm about to do the American tour. And the goal is to celebrate them with all their community. I'm going to bring all the artists, musicians, [and] friends that made the shop; It's time to invite the people that worked with the shop 10 or 15 years ago.”

CultureMap: Were there any particularly memorable or surprising stories you uncovered while researching or writing Heart?

Lucas Beaufort: “I did everything by email and phone. The thing is, if I had the chance to travel to make the book, I would have maybe taken all the photos of the shop. But this way, I have included all the photographers from each skate shop. The book has probably 400 names involved. At the end of the day, I really like bringing together the whole community in terms of the story.”

Photo courtesy of Lucas Beaufort

CultureMap: As an artist, how has your involvement in skateboarding influenced your creative work and artistic perspective?

Lucas Beaufort: “I started to skate before making art. I think that it's because of skateboarding that I started to grow and paint today. When I was 14, I wasn't drawing anything. Back then I wasn't into art, but I loved the [skateboard] graphics. And when I started [painting] at 27, It was kind of an explosion of it was inside me. One day I took a piece of paper and let go. And it wasn't like, ‘Oh, wow, I found something’. First was a drawing. Then a second, then sharing to Facebook, then Instagram, and then randomly some people came: ‘Can we work with you?’. It wasn't that I had planned it. It was just random and step by step. It became a job for real.”

CultureMap: How did you find the confidence to share your art with a relatively late start at 27?

Lucas Beaufort: “When I started to draw, I was working with a skateboard magazine from France. I was the money guy. So I was the guy selling ads, making businesses with brands. When I started to draw, a lot of people from the industry were like, ‘What are you doing? You're not supposed to draw. You’re just the guy who makes money.’ It's funny how you know people put you in a box. But I didn't care. I had nothing to lose. I had my job, and then this side project every night was drawing and making things. I quit my job at the age of 33. This was the time where I was confident enough to be like, ‘Okay, now I'm a full time artist’. Listen to your heart; Listen to what you want to do, and do everything to make it happen. Because if it's not you, nobody will make it happen. If you like what you do, you can do amazing things. That's it.”

CultureMap: Collaboration seems to be a big part of your ethos, from working with skate shops to partnering with Pabst Blue Ribbon on this tour. Why is collaboration important to you, and how does it enhance the experience for your audience?

Lucas Beaufort: “I really feel that in life, if you try to do things on your own, you will do things but it will never go big. I realized that if I want to go big, I have to bring people; I have to bring an army with me. And that's why I love to collaborate, because I feel like if we are a strong team, we can do amazing. We can have a big voice. I will never let anyone be on the side. No. I will be like, ‘Come over. Come over.’”

CultureMap: The event at No Comply promises to be an immersive experience, with an art show, local artists and skaters, and of course, PBR. What do you hope attendees take away from this multifaceted celebration?

Lucas Beaufort: “Austin is going to be one of the 10 stops during this tour. I'm going to document everything. Austin should be the biggest show because of how many artists are involved. It's crazy. Expect a big party, and it's going to be very short because actually, there is just a one-night show. I don't want to waste anybody's time. Artists are going to be there. You can talk to everybody you can. And then the next day, boom, I go to another place. Austin is the one to not to miss. I'm excited — and shout out to PBR! I brought the project to them. They were like, ‘Let go!’ and they really supported. They want to go further. They really want us to promote good things around the culture in skateboarding.

Photo courtesy of Lucas Beaufort

CultureMap: Your book, Heart, sold out its initial run of 5,000 copies. What is it about this project that you think resonates with people beyond just the skate community?

Lucas Beaufort: “When you go to the skate shop, it's not like going to a shop where you just buy a pair of socks and you leave. No, you stay. You touch, you talk about stories, you talk shit sometimes. It's a hub. It's a place where you meet up. I'm super happy that I can touch more people and spread what the skate community is through people that really don't know about it. Now they get it.

It's not that you like the skate industry or the skate culture is involved — it’s part of it. And that's a big difference. You can be a fan of skateboarding, which is something that I really respect. But you are involved because you want to do things for the culture. It's another step, and that's what I do every day. You know, I make sure I have more ideas, more projects, and more things coming.”