"He ain't Heavy....He's my brother"....Gilbert Young captures Black History

Gilbert Young (1941- )

            Gilbert Young is a nationally renowned artist, muralist, and art conservator.  Born and raised in Cincinnati Ohio, he served twenty-seven years as director and conservator of the multi-million dollar University of Cincinnati Fine Art Collection. Some of his monumental mural projects can still be viewed in the greater Cincinnati area.



Gilbert Young



In 1994 Young was named Artist-in-Residence to the University of Cincinnati. He re-located to Atlanta, Georgia in 1995 and became Artistic Director for the International Paint Pals Art Competition in conjunction with the 1996 Olympics. He was commissioned by Procter & Gamble to design the Salute to Greatness Award presented by the Martin Luther King Center for Non-Violent Social Change, and was featured in Ebony Man magazine as a “Talented & Impressive Black Artist.”  Young is the first artist to perform live on stage accompanied by an entire symphony orchestra while creating a commemorative work. The painting of maestro Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati POPS orchestra was recently installed in the new School for the Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati. Gilbert was recognized in “Who’s Who in Black Atlanta,” the 2010 edition, and in  July, 2011 he was honored by recording artist Big Boi and the Big Kidz Foundation as one of five “Champions of the Arts” along with Academy Award winner Monique, and actress/director Jasmine Guy. This year, 2012, Gilbert was inducted into the 66^th edition of “Who’s Who in America.”

Young is a frequent lecturer, and has been invited to speak at colleges and universities around the country including Harvard Law School, Spelman College, and Morehouse College.  In 2001 he was presented with the prestigious Heritage Award for Outstanding Visual Arts at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York. In 2004, he received the Pallet Award for Lifetime Achievement in the arts during the Heritage Arts Festival in Atlanta. And in 2010 he was honored with a Resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives, naming him State of Georgia Artist in Residence.

Young is the only artist in the world to paint a portrait of an American President that is signed by the subject. The piece, entitled “History + Hope = Change,” may be viewed at www.gilbertyoungart.com. A portrait of Mrs. Obama is in progress.

His work can be found in galleries throughout the United States, in select cities around the world, and in many private and corporate collections including St. Petersburg Russia’s City Hall and the Paul R. Jones collection of African American Art at the University of Delaware—one of the oldest, largest, and most complete holdings of African American art in the world.

Gilbert Young resides in Atlanta with his wife Lea Winfrey Young and Gilbert Montana, the youngest of the artist’s five sons.

Gilbert Young

1941-

n Exhibitions at five venues, hosted by City Arts Factory and The Grand Bohemian Hotel, Orlando, FL 2011

n Inducted into “Who’s Who in America,” 2012, 66^th Edition

n Honored by Resolution from Georgia House of Representatives, naming Gilbert Young State of Georgia Artist in Residence./Atlanta, GA 2010

n Featured in “Who’s Who in Black Atlanta”/Atlanta, GA 2010

n The only artist in the world to create a painted portrait of a U.S. President, and have it signed by the subject. “History + Hope = Change is signed by Barack Obama (see attached)

n Featured artist, The Atlanta Dogwood Festival Rhythm & Blooms Fundraiser/Atlanta, 2007

n Pallet Award for Lifetime Achievement, Heritage Arts Festival, Atlanta GA 2004

n First African American to create a painting live on stage with an American Symphony Orchestra. The Cincinnati POPS featuring Grammy Award winning conductor, Erich Kunzel/Cincinnati, OH 2004

n Presented with the prestigious Heritage Award for Outstanding Visual Arts, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York, February 2001

n Gilbert Young Enterprises, publisher and distributor of fine ethnic art, Cincinnati/Atlanta, 1991-2008

n Artistic Director and Supervising Judge for “Paint Pals,” an International Olympic Youth Art Competition and Exhibition, organized in honor of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.  The project supported efforts by The Atlanta Project, founded and directed by President Jimmy Carter/ Atlanta, GA 1996

n Artist in Residence, the University of Cincinnati/Cincinnati OH, 1994

n Conservator and Director of the University of Cincinnati fine Art Collection/ Cincinnati, OH,  1967-1994

n “Talented & Impressive Black Artists,” Ebony Man Magazine, 1995

n “Who’s Who in Black Arts”, 1992

n “Portraits of Excellence, A photographic History: Cincinnati’s Prominent Blacks of the Eighties”/Cincinnati OH 1988

n Chairman of Mixed Media, a professional artist association/ Cincinnati, OH 1980

n National Youth Director, National Conference of Artists, Cincinnati Chapter/ Cincinnati OH 1980

n Director of Martinique Cultural Exchange Exhibition, an exchange of art and artists with the Island of Martinique/Cincinnati, OH 1980

n Consultant to the Harriet Beecher Stow House Renovation Project, to create a cultural arts center for the visual and performing arts/Cincinnati, OH 1978

n Director of Metro Mural Project I, II, III, (1975, 1976, and 1977) providing creative summer employment for youth while producing monument works of urban art/Cincinnati, OH

COMMISSIONS

n Commission to create the “Hattie Dorsey Award” in honor of Hattie Dorsey, president of the Atlanta Neighborhood  Development Partnership, Atlanta, GA 2006

n Commissioned portrait of Attorney General Thurbert Baker, Atlanta GA 2002

n Commissioned by American Greeting, Inc. to create “The Art of Gilbert Young” calendar, distributed in five countries, Atlanta GA 2002 and 2003

n Commissioned by Procter & Gamble to create the “Salute to Greatness Award” for the Martin Luther King Jr., Center for Non-violent Social Change, Cincinnati/Atlanta 1995

n Commission to create a portrait of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Cincinnati OH 1995

n Commission to create a commemorative poster for the American Federation of Teachers, Cincinnati OH 1994

n Commission from Cincinnati Metro for ARTSCINCINNATI94, original artwork on metro transportation, Cincinnati OH 1994

n Commission to create a portrait of Theodore M. Berry, Cincinnati’s first African American Mayor, Cincinnati OH 1990

n Commission to create a sculpture of Oscar Gamby, Jr., Cincinnati OH 1981

n Commissioned portrait of Dr. Robert H. Chess, Cincinnati OH 1981

n Commission from Dayn-Mark Advertising to produce the image “The Drum,” for BellSouth campaign, Atlanta, GA 1999

n Advertising Age “Image of the Week” Award for “The Drum.” Atlanta, GA 1999

n Applause Magazine Image Maker Award, Cincinnati OH 1994

n Post-Corbett Award for Outstanding Visual Arts, Scripps Howard/Cincinnati Post, Cincinnati OH 1993

n Commissioned Kentucky Colonel by then Governor of Kentucky, Lexington KY 1999

n Commissioned Kentucky Colonel by Governor of Kentucky, Lexington KY 1995

n Nip Magazine 25^th Anniversary Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Arts, Cincinnati OH 1980

Numerous honors, certificates, recognitions, and awards as well as Proclamations and keys to the cities of Cambridge, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Columbus, Louisville, Greensboro NC, and Detroit for outstanding achievement in the arts.

COLLECTIONS

n Comfort Inn & Suites/Savannah, GA; University of Delaware Paul R. Jones Collection; The Erich Kunzel School for the Creative & Performing Arts; Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company; Cincinnati Bell’ Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland; Xavier University (Ohio); Santa Barbara Recreation Department; Procter & Gamble; LoGo Entertainment Group; JC Penny; Howard University; University of Cincinnati; University of Cincinnati African American Heritage Center; National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center at Wilberforce; Morris Brown College; The Academy of Art, St. Petersburg Russia; BellSouth Corporate Offices/Atlanta; Cincinnati Metro.

Numerous private collectors

Numerous feature articles and exhibitions.