Woman In Red
$1,500.00
Editorial View
The Gallery's Perspective
A quiet urgency holds this image: a strong, outstretched hand offers a burning torch while another hand reaches forward, paused in the moment of acceptance. The torch, inscribed “EDMUND PETT,” and the graceful arch of the bridge beneath ground the composition in a specific act of remembrance and movement—an elegiac scene that looks both backward and ahead. Rendered in a restrained monochrome palette, the drawing balances monumental portraiture (a contemplative, dignified face to the right) with intimately observed hands whose veins and texture give them palpable weight and history. Light radiates from the flame, bathing faces and palms and turning the clouded sky into an atmosphere of solemn resolve. The lower edge, where pigment drips like memory made visible, suggests endurance and the stains of struggle that trail beneath public gestures. As an image about continuity, memory, and responsibility, it feels less like a single moment and more like a charged handoff—steady, solemn, and meant to be carried forward.
The Artwork
About PASSING THE TORCH
This piece was created to celebrate my friend John Lewis and the historic march over the Edmund Pettus Bridge, but the broader meaning of the image is to remind us never to forget, and to pass on what we know, what we experience, what we have endured, to the next generation.
Collector Details
What to Know About This Piece
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About the Collection
Gilbert Young is a renowned African American artist, muralist, and art conservator whose work profoundly captures the African American experience. His iconic painting, He Ain't Heavy, exemplifies his commitment to figurative realism and serves as a powerful piece of social commentary. Beyond his studio work, Young has made significant contributions as a community activist, creating impactful public murals that celebrate cultural heritage and address pertinent social issues. His art not only reflects the richness of African American culture but also inspires dialogue and understanding within the broader community.
Artist Signature
Signed and documented
This piece is signed by the artist and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.
Image Rights
Image copyright © 2026 by Gilbert Young.
Authorized Source
Authenticity & Documentation
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Gilbert Young's support of various community activities and events in his native town of Cincinnati, Ohio spans over two decades. He was active there in both the artistic and scholastic arenas. Young served as Director and Conservator of the Fine Arts Collection for the University of Cincinnati for twenty-six years. He also served as Artist-in Residence for the University in 1994-1995.
Dating back to 1975, this multi-talented, multi-faceted, internationally known artist has lent the use of his images and time to many community projects and organizations. Young served as a consultant to the Harriet Beecher Stowe House Project, a renovation and restoration project for the Harriet Beecher Stowe house, creating a cultural arts center for the visual and performing arts in Cincinnati. In 1991, when the Cincinnati branch of the National Council of Negro Women hosted its first "Black Family Reunion", Gilbert was asked to provide the image that would become the official poster of the event. He also lent the use of his image, "Inside Daddy's World" , to The Black Male Coalition of Greater Cincinnati, Inc. in 1995 as the cover of their brochure and one of his most profound works, a commissioned portrait of civil rights leader Dr. martin Luther King hangs in the lobby of University Hospital.
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