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Gilbert Young (July 27, 1941 - ) is a nationally known African American artist, muralist, art conservator, and activist. Though his talent was discernible at an early age, and encouraged by his grandmother, Montana Hardin (1884-1953), Young's career as a full-time artist did not commence until he returned home after a two year stint in the army during the Vietnam War and after serving twenty-seven more years as conservator and director of the University of Cincinnati Fine Art Collection.

Known for his wide-brimmed hats and cowboy boots, Young, at age seventy-one, is one of the oldest living contemporary African American artists. Two works of art created decades apart are signature to his body of work: He Ain't Heavy,created in 1981, depicts a man reaching back down a wall for another man's hand. The image has been used on program and book covers (cite cover of Harvard Law seminar and cover of Black Male Crisis), in movies (cite Father Flannigan Story starring Lou Gossett, Jr.), on television (cite A Different World with picture of Kadeem Hardison in He Ain't Heavy shirt) and as tatoos (cite pic of tatt from guy in Jersey). History + Hope = Change, created in 2008, is a dual portrait of Barack Obama. The piece was hand signed by Obama and Young after it was presented during a political fundraiser in Cincinnati. There is no other known painted portrait of a US president that is signed by the subject.

EARLY YEARS As a black artist who came of age during the Jim Crow era 1950's and the civil rights upheaval of the 1960's, Young's early work was greatly influenced by his socioeconomic background. He was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of a domestic, Araminta Hardin (1921-1973), and oldest of six children including sisters Loretta (1942-2011), Gwendolyn (called Midge)(1946- ), Regina (1957- ), and Melda Ann(1954- ). Young had one brother, Stanley (1951-2005) who was sent to live with his father when he was an infant. None of the siblings shared a father and Young never met his own. The family would go on to move from housing project to project more than twenty-one times before Young had turned twenty years old (citation). One of his most poignant works is called Search for a Kingdom.

Though his artistry would be recognized with numerous awards during his youth, Young was challenged academically. In seventh grade, he was subjected to ridicule after being placed in a class for slow learners. It took years for teachers to discover Young was actually dyslexic. By age eighteen, Young received a scholarship to the Cincinnati Art Academy but was unable to participate in classes because he could not afford to purchase art supplies.

After Young graduated high school he landed a summer job sweeping floors for the prestigious Cincinnati gallery and furniture store, AB Closson & Company. His weeks at the Cincinnati Art Academy and time spent in the AB Closson gallery introduced Young to fine art. It was during this time that he became aware of Harlem Renaissance artists and their works. Young idolized Charles White and worked to emulate the artists' style. White was renowned for his works in graphite so graphite became Young's medium of choice. Much of his early work, particularly those pieces that have become signature to Young, including He Ain't Heavy, The Journey, Checker Players, When the Spirit Hits Ya, and Joy Ride, were created using graphite. Though Young now works in many forms of media including oil and acrylic paint, sculpture, and mixed media murals, he considers the graphite drawings his best work (cite) .

Vietnam as Battalion Artist Young was the oldest of six children and considered the male head of household when the first call came for the Vietnam draft. He was excused from service from age eighteen to twenty-four while he worked to support his family. Uncle Sam called again, and in 1965 Young became the oldest draftee, at age twenty-five, in his barracks.