Saying Goodbye to Long-Time WheelHouse Artist, Barbara Young

WheelHouse Art is deeply disheartened to share news of the passing of another long-time gallery artist Barbara Young at the age of 89.

Barbara Young graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1957 with a B.S. in Design. Later she studied printmaking at Edgecliff College, Cincinnati, OH. 

Her extensive career included nearly four decades of representation in Louisville, KY with Swearingen Gallery in Louisville from 1977 - 1994, and B. Deemer Gallery/WheelHouse Art for the past two dozen years.

Her works are in the collections of Cincinnati Bell, Dracket Co., Linclay Corp. and Prudential Insurance Co. of Chicago, as well as many other private, corporate and museum collections, including the Cincinnati Art Museum, Dayton Art Institute, Miami University Art Museum, Museum of Fine Art, Boston, and the University of Michigan Museum of Art.

In celebration of Barbara Young's life and career, WheelHouse Art will have a collection of her work on view December 8, 2023 - January 20, 2024.

Barbara Lee Young (1934 - 2023)

"My love affair with the art world began with my first box of crayons and has continued with few stops for some 60 plus years.

After having painted portraits and landscapes for many years, in mid-career, I jumped headlong into traditional printmaking with all of its disciplines. This led me to the exploration of the collagraph and the monotype mediums. The possibilities were endless. 

Every medium that I embrace offers the opportunity of discovery, which sets off the creative energy that we artists seek. The passion that drives us all is the hope that we will get better, not just older. But true creativity is elusive. It leads us on with the promise of immortality. If we are very, very good we will be remembered. That is enough.”

—Barbara Young

Barbara Lee Young Obituary

Cincinnati lost an important contributor to the arts community. Barbara Lee Young (Buck), 89, of Cincinnati, Ohio, passed away on September 16, 2023, from natural causes. Barbara’s love affair with the art world began with her first box of crayons and continued with a few stops for 70 plus years. She started painting portraits and landscapes and in mid-career she jumped headlong into traditional printmaking. Printmaking led her to the exploration of collagraph and monotype mediums. She felt that art provided her with the opportunity of discovery and feed her passion to get better. She once stated, “true creativity is elusive. It leads us on with the promise of immortality. If we are very, very good we will be remembered. That is enough.” Barbara was indeed very, very good and her memories and works will live on.

Barbara Young was born on July 12, 1934. She graduated from Withrow High School in 1952 and went on to the University of Cincinnati and received her degree in Design in 1957. Later she studied printmaking at Edgecliff College, Cincinnati, OH. She was a respected and influential artist in Cincinnati. Barbara was one of the first 7 artists to have a studio at Essex Studios in the early 80’s. She maintained her studio there until her passing. She was also involved in Tiger Lily Press in the 80’s and 90’s. Barbara’s works are in the collections of Cincinnati Art Museum, Miami University Art Museum, Museum of Fine Art Boston, Dayton Art Institute, University of Michigan Museum of Art, Cincinnati Bell (AltaFiber), Fifth Third Bank, UC Hospital, and the University of North Carolina, as well as many other private, and corporate collections in the United States, Europe, and Mexico.

She was predeceased by Steward T. Buck, her father, Isabelle Buck (Spaulding), her mother, and Heather Lewis Knopf (Buck), her sister. She is survived by her husband Robert Dean Young, and her two children, Mark Steward Young (Holly Young) and Heather Elizabeth Schmidt (John Crow). As per the family’s request, no funeral will be held. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held later.

In lieu of flowers please feel free to honor Barbara’s contributions to the arts community by donating to Arts Wave Cincinnati at artswave.org or any other organization that positively impacts the arts in your community.