Born in 1983 in Louisville, KY, Gee Horton is a Cincinnati-based, self-taught artist celebrated for his photorealistic drawings that delve into the complexities of human experience. In 2020, he made the transformative decision to leave his corporate career to fully embrace his artistic calling.

As the recipient of ArtsWave’s 2020 Truth and Reconciliation grant, Horton launched The Baobab Project, creating a reflective space for Black men to explore vulnerability and coming-of-age experiences. His art has garnered national acclaim, featured on HBO’s Insecure and Amazon Prime’s Harlem, and he received an Emmy for his residency at The Mercantile Library of Cincinnati, where he created a monumental portrait of Black abolitionist Peter H. Clark.

Horton’s debut exhibition at the Alice F. and Harris K. Weston Art Gallery in 2021 showcased hyper-realistic charcoal and graphite portraits that explore African American adolescence. Through contemporary culture and hip-hop music, he dignifies the Black experience while addressing youth vulnerabilities. His subjects, his teenage nephew and niece, reflect the formative influences and cultural expectations of being young and Black in America, serving as a means for Horton to heal personal trauma.

In his current exhibition as part of FOTOFOCUS 2024 Biennial, "Chapter 2: A Subtle Farewell to the Inner Child," Horton invites viewers to engage in meaningful dialogue about identity and healing through a blend of photography, drawings, collage, and a dynamic short film. His third solo exhibition, "Chapter 3: Be Home Before the Streetlights," is set to debut at KMAC Contemporary Art Museum in Louisville, KY, in November 2024.

Additionally, his "Coming of Age mural series" for the Blink Festival marks a significant milestone, showcasing three large-scale contemporary artworks across three blocks of Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine. This series enhances the cityscape, celebrates the Black experience, and addresses youth vulnerabilities, redefining public art as a powerful tool for empowerment and change.

Horton describes his work as “an intimate tapestry woven from deeply personal threads—lived experiences, wisdom, and spiritual revelations.” Each piece represents his ongoing evolution, embodying healing and a commitment to disrupt generational wounds.

His work is included in prestigious collections such as The Mercantile Library and The Cincinnati Art Museum. A 2022 residency with DiasporicSoul in Senegal further enriched his artistic journey and commitment to collective healing. Recognized in the Cincinnati Business Courier's 2023 40 Under 40 list, Horton holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Louisville, grounding his art in insights into societal influences and psychosocial development.