Gee Horton

Gee Horton (/dʒi ˈhɔːrtən/) is an American contemporary artist based in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is recognized for his graphite and charcoal portraiture, as well as mixed-media works that address themes of identity, memory, and emotional experience. Horton's practice often integrates photorealistic drawing with archival materials and installation, focusing on aspects of Black adolescence and masculinity.

Early life and education Horton was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He earned a Bachelor of Psychology from Thomas More University in 2006 and a Master of Social Work from the University of Louisville in 2008. His academic training in psychology and trauma theory has influenced his approach to art. Horton transitioned from a corporate career to full-time art practice in 2020.

Work In 2020, Horton began the "Coming of Age" portrait series and received ArtsWave's Truth and Reconciliation Grant. He also launched The Baobab Project, a space for Black men to explore vulnerability and personal narratives through visual storytelling. During this period, Horton served as an artist-in-residence at the Mercantile Library of Cincinnati, where he produced a portrait of abolitionist Peter H. Clark, recognized with an Emmy Award. Horton's work has been featured in television productions such as HBO's Insecure and Amazon Prime's Harlem. His debut solo exhibition, "Chapter One: Coming of Age" (2021) at the Alice F. and Harris K. Weston Art Gallery, examined African American adolescence through contemporary cultural references. The Cincinnati Art Museum acquired his work for the "Coming of Age: New Acquisition Exhibit" in 2022

His subsequent exhibitions include "Chapter Two: A Subtle Farewell to the Inner Child" (2024) as part of the FotoFocus Biennial at Kennedy Heights Arts Center. and "Chapter Three: Be Home Before the Streetlights" at KMAC Contemporary Art Museum in Louisville, Kentucky. These exhibitions further explored themes of identity, memory, and healing He also contributed to the Blink Festival in Cincinnati with the "Coming of Age" mural series, which spans three blocks of Vine Street, addressing youth vulnerability and celebrating community

Selected group exhibitions 2019: Manifestations of Time, The Mohawk Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio

2019: Banz Studios Presents, Banz Studios Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio

2020: Uprising, Kennedy Heights Arts Center, Cincinnati, Ohio

2020: Black & Brown Faces, Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, Ohio

2020: Truth & Reconciliation, National Underground Railroad Museum, Cincinnati, Ohio

2022: Let’s Grow, Alpha Arts Alliance, Brooklyn, New York

2023: Ohio Voices, Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, Ohio

2023: A Flower For Our Inner Child, Koik Contemporary Gallery, Mexico City, Mexico

2024: Proximity of Fate, Mansfield Art Center, Mansfield, Ohio

2025: The Light We Share, The Portal Gallery at Toledo School for the Arts, Toledo, Ohio

Public art projects and commissions 2020: Black Lives Matter Mural, Cincinnati City Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio 2020: Cincinnati Music Festival Outdoor Art Museum, Washington Park, Cincinnati, Ohio 2021: Coming of Age Mural, Court Street Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio 2021: Harlem, Amazon Prime, Season 1, Episode 11 (artwork appearance)

Public collections 2021: Mercantile Library of Cincinnati 2022: Cincinnati Art Museum 2022: Emmy Award for Artist Residency at the Mercantile Library of Cincinnati 2024: Creative Ohio Semi-Finalist, Champion Advocacy Awards 2025: Be Home Before the Streetlights (short film), Official Selection, OTR International Film Festival 2025: CODA Summit Creative Revolutionary Honoree