 His work ranged from industrial assemblages and happenings in the 60's to large, abstract public commissions in the 70's to Yup'ik masks inspired by traditional Yup'ik pieces, but rendered with modern industrial and manufactured materials which he began in the 80's and was working on up until his death.Beck's father was American, his mother was Norwegian/Yup'ik from Alaska.He was raised in Seattle and attended the University of Washington, earning a B.A.