February 8, 2021

Charles McGee "Unity" Photograph by Sal Rodriguez / Courtesy Library Street Collective 

Charles McGee, an iconic Detroit artist known for his bold, abstract murals and sculptures throughout the city, has died. 

Painting. Sculpture. Assemblage. Drawing. No matter what the medium, McGee’s work was full of exuberance, wonder and beauty — the soulful expression of a man deeply in tune with life, the human capacity for creativity and the sheer joy of making and sharing art. McGee was best known for his large-scale mixed-media pieces and commissions that grace indoor and outdoor spaces in metro Detroit. The beloved “Noah’s Ark: 'Genesis'” (1984) at the DIA, 10 feet tall and 15 feet wide, shows two Egyptian-styled women and animals rendered in playful, abstracted simplicity. He was an artist of international renown, who in his life and his work was energetic, passionate, always probing and eager to take on new challenges. McGee’s art spoke with an individual voice, and his work was deeply informed by nature, a non-hierarchical view of the world and a deep sense of community.

Al Loving, "Card Players", Charles McGee  Courtesy of Collected Detroit 

In a statement release Friday, the DIA describes McGee as "a local, regional and national treasure

Charles McGee in front of his piece titled "Regeneration," 2007. (Photo by Ray Manning) (Kresge Foundation) 

“Charles McGee was a well-loved artist certainly here in Detroit," said Valerie Mercer, curator of African American art at the Detroit Institute of Arts. "He’s famous for his public art works as well as his paintings and he had had a very rich history here. His work is in various collections as well as in the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Charles Wright Museum.”

Charles McGee "Celebration" Courtesy Library Street Collective 

Salvador Salort-Pons, DIA Director said, “Charles McGee left a tremendous legacy for all Detroiters, and for all those who visit our city and see his work in our museums, in our parks, and even on our buildings.”