Melcolm Beaulieu is a multidisciplinary creative artist who is a member of Metepenagiag Mi’kmaq Nation who grew up in Stanley but now lives in Fredericton. With over a decade of experience in beadwork, Melcolm is the founder of The Beads Knees, a beading-focused art business and a co-founder of The Collective, a collaborative commercial studio space in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
The Beads Knees centers on contemporary beadwork projects and products. Melcolm has spent the past six years dedicated to full-time practice. While they continue to take on select commissions and teach beadwork, their work has evolved to focus primarily on large-scale projects and gallery exhibitions, marking a significant next step in their artistic career. “I'm hoping to take my business even further and do more travelling and visiting other provinces and territories to promote and expand my business. A year of connecting.” What began as a small business has grown into a practice recognized through gallery appearances and major exhibitions.
Melcolm is a co-founder of The Collective, a shared commercial studio space that hosts artists and other creative industry workers. “The Collective is unique because it offers a queer focused space, all of us are queer who work here and it provides a level of safety. It is a place you can come to work and feel understood and clients feel that too”. A core value behind The Collective is inclusivity. Melcolm offers beadwork workshops ranging from one-off sessions, such as corporate or private workshops, to courses that can run for several months. These sessions can take place either at The Collective or by travelling to meet participants where they are.
Today, The Collective has grown into more than a studio; it has become a community hub where artists gather, collaborate, and spend time together beyond their workdays.
Melcolm’s journey into beadwork began as a personal healing practice while working toward sobriety. Beading provided grounded practice, which eventually became both a passion and a profession. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Melcolm leaned into this practice and formally grew The Beads Knees as a business. Since then, they have seen meaningful growth and transformation.
The name The Beads Knees originated from Melcolm’s Instagram handle, which began gaining traction as their beadwork reached a wider audience. As the platform grew alongside the business, the name naturally became the brand.
To strengthen their business skills, Melcolm participated in JEDI’s ITC Incubator Program. Launching a business during the pandemic came with unique challenges, and the program helped Melcolm better understand the business side of their work, particularly virtual operations and the use of technology to expand their brand. Through this learning, Melcolm has continued to explore innovative approaches to beadwork, including animated and digital formats.
One of Melcolm’s greatest achievements to date is the opening of The Collective, a space that reflects the creative environment they always dreamed of, long before owning a business themselves. As Melcolmshares, “It’s really become a hangout spot. When the tattoo artists are done for the day, they don’t just pack up and leave, they sit on the couch, talk, and spend time together. That means a lot to me.”
Another standout moment in Melcolm’s career was being selected to participate in Radical Stitch, the world’s largest collection of contemporary beadworks. When the exhibition toured last winter and stopped in Fredericton, Melcolm’s work was included, an accomplishment that marked a major milestone in their artistic journey.
Looking ahead, Melcolm’s goals include participating in more out-of-province exhibitions and events to further expand their reach, grow brand awareness, and continue building a sustainable creative practice. The advice they leave with others is simple but powerful: shoot your shot, take the risk, and follow your dream.