168629709

My objective is to illustrate African American life as a positive form in matrimony with all mankind. Each work is my personal and intimate involvement with my subject, so a work develops its own character while I form the interpretation.My first love is to draw. But I’ve found as I get older that color, and the skill of painting are attractive to me.I am described as an artist, muralist, arts advocate and conservator. I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and began showing artistic talents very early. By age 6, I told my grandmother I planned to be a rich and famous artist. Her name was Montana Harden. My youngest son is named Gilbert Montana Young. For twenty-seven years I worked as Director and Conservator of the multi-million dollar University of Cincinnati Fine Art Collection and was named named Artist-in-Residence to the University in 1994. I've traveled across the country and to cities around the world including St. Petersburg, Russia as Artistic Director for the International Paint Pals Arts Competition in conjunction with the 1996 Olympic in Atlanta, Georgia. I was commissioned by Procter & Gamble to design the Salute to Greatness Award that was presented annually by Coretta Scott King and the King Center and in 2004, was named Artist-In-Residence to the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati State “Gear Up” program.I'm serving on the board of the Cincinnati-based non-profit organization, Project ArtReach as Curator of Visual Arts, on the board of the Heritage Arts Festival, Atlanta, Georgia, and I'm President of the He Ain’t Heavy Foundation, Inc.You'll be able to visit my new website soon, and my artwork can also be purchased in galleries throughout the United States and select cities and countries around the world. You’ve seen my work in BellSouth advertising, on NAACP commemorative prints, and at fundraisers for Morehouse College. If you’ve watched “A Different World,” on television, you’ve seen my artwork on teeshirts worn by the actors. You may not know I'm the first artist to perform live on stage accompanied by an entire symphony orchestra, the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, conducted by Grammy Award winner Eric Kunzel. I moved to Atlanta thirteen years ago, and live with my gorgeous wife Lea, and my youngest of five sons.I love the history and artistry of black people and my years on this planet will end educating buyers and promoting African American art until we gain the recognition we deserve.