Kenneth Victor Young facts for kids

Kenneth Victor Young (1933–2017) was an American artist, teacher, and designer. He was known for his colorful abstract paintings. He was also part of the Washington Color School art movement. For 35 years, he worked at the Smithsonian Institution as an exhibit designer.

Early Life and Learning

Kenneth Victor Young was born in Louisville, Kentucky on December 12, 1933. He grew up in an African American family.

He went to the University of Louisville to study design and physics. Later, he continued his studies at Indiana University and the University of Hawai'i. While at the University of Louisville, he met other artists like Sam Gilliam and Bob Thompson. In the 1950s, Young also served in the United States Navy.

His Career as an Artist and Designer

Young first worked at a chemical company called DuPont in Louisville. In 1964, he moved to Washington D.C. He started a new job as an exhibit designer at the Smithsonian Institution. He was the first Black exhibit designer there.

He also worked evenings as a designer for the United States Information Agency. This job allowed him to travel to places like Egypt, Italy, and different parts of Africa. At the Smithsonian, he became friends with fellow artist Jacob Kainen.

The Washington Color School

Through his connections, Young met many other painters from the Washington Color School. This was a group of artists known for their large, colorful, abstract paintings. Young became very dedicated to painting by 1960.

His first solo art show in a museum was in 1974. It was called Ken Young: Recent Paintings and was held at the Corcoran Gallery of Art.

Young's Art Style

Young's paintings were abstract, meaning they didn't show real objects. They often featured many colorful brush strokes. His paintings were usually large and very bright. Some of his painting titles were even inspired by jazz music.

He also shared his knowledge by teaching art. He taught at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design. He also taught at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.

His Legacy

Kenneth Young passed away on March 12, 2017, in Washington, D.C. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

You can find Young's artwork in many public museum collections. These include the National Gallery of Art, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. His work was also part of a special art collection. This collection belonged to the historic Johnson Publishing Company. This company published famous magazines like Ebony and Jet.

The Johnson Publishing Company's art collection had 75 artworks by African American artists. These artworks used to hang in their offices. However, due to financial problems, the artworks were sold at an auction in January 2020.