McGee was born in 1955, and grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. As an adolescent he had no access to art materials or instruction. After graduating high school, he moved to Chicago where he majored in African American history and literature at Wilson College. While working as a stage hand and ticket agent for local grass roots theater companies, Marcus began to develop an interest in painting. During his stay in the midwest he began collecting Black Memorabilia, as well as traditional African textiles, and art. McGee's love of the richness of the textiles and history found in his collection is what inspires his abstract painting today.

In 1994 McGee returned home to Atlanta where he becan selling his art at street fairs, and was surprised by the reaction he received. McGee was totally self-taught as an artist. He has since traveled to New York where he has participated in several workshops at the Art Students League. He has developed a style that combines the art of collage, acrylics and hand-made papers to create his global abstract paintings.

McGee believes that the power of artistic expression is necessary for children to develop critical thinking skills. He is currently collaborating with a group of artists and educators to develop a non-profit organization to provide art instruction for adolescents at risk.