About Gilbert Young
Born 1941. Gilbert Young is an American artist.
Gilbert Young (born 1941) is an American artist from Cincinnati, specializing in conceptions of the African-American experience. Young is best known for his painting He Ain't Heavy, which as of 2004 had sold "nearly one million" copies. His art has been used by BellSouth advertising and on T-shirts worn by actors on Bill Cosby's NBC sitcom A Different World.
Young criticized the selection of Chinese sculptor Lei Yixin to sculpt the National Mall's Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. One of his objections was that the sculptor chosen should be African-American.
In 2019, Gilbert Young completed the longest mural in Atlanta, measuring 700 feet.
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Important facts
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Frequently asked questions
Who is Gilbert Young?
American artist
When was Gilbert Young born?
Gilbert Young was born in 1941 in Cincinnati.
What is Gilbert Young's occupation?
Gilbert Young is an artist.
What nationality is Gilbert Young?
Gilbert Young is American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Gilbert Young. https://biography.guide/gilbert-young/
MLA: "Gilbert Young." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/gilbert-young/.
Chicago: "Gilbert Young." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/gilbert-young/.
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