Charles McGee (December 15, 1924 – February 4, 2021) was an American artist and educator known for creating paintings, assemblages, and sculptures.

Every time I go around a corner, something new is revealed to me.”[3] As a boy, McGee attended George Washington Elementary and took art classes at the McGregor Public Library in Highland Park.

[1][2] After returning to Detroit, he took advantage of the GI Bill to attend classes at the College for Creative Studies, then known as the Society of Arts and Crafts.

The artwork he produced afterwards centered more on fundamental elements and less on subject matter, and he abandoned the realism that had dominated his early drawings.

[1] One notable exception to this was in Noah’s Ark: 'Genesis' (1984) at the Detroit Institute of Arts,[8] which depicts two Egyptian-styled women and animals that are presented in "playful, abstracted simplicity".

[1] However, these human representations were created in line with the abstract form he adopted, with Jean Dubuffet named as a key inspiration.

[12] McGee's work is installed in public settings, including the William Beaumont Hospital of Royal Oak, Michigan and the Detroit People Mover Broadway Station.

[15] According to the Kresge Foundation, "McGee developed an unwavering loyalty to the city and its residents, and endowed it with much of his artistic energy and artwork.

[1][16] Administered by the College for Creative Studies, this award honors one Detroit artist each year for professional achievements, cultural contributions, and commitment to the local arts community.