He is best known for his various irreverent and, at times deliberately, politically incorrect and provocative pieces. Refraining from using ‘traditional’ media, Young’s practice remains challenging and varied. This may include; found objects, text-based works, video, performances, neon-lights, installations and sculpture, and painting.

Ed Young was born in 1978 in Welkom, South Africa, and currently lives and works in Cape Town. He holds a Masters of Fine Art Degree from the Michaelis School of Fine Art at the University of Cape Town.

In 2016, Young was an invited artist to present a site-specific installation as one of eight special projects for The ARMORY Show’s invitational Focus: African Perspectives section, curated by Julia Grosse and Yvette Mutumba of Contemporary And (C&).