In Memoriam: Jerry Pinkney

Renowned children’s illustrator Jerry Pinkney, a Croton-on-Harmon resident, recently passed away.  Pinkney began working on children’s books in 1964, thereafter illustrating more than 100 titles, including five that were named “Best Illustrated Books” by the New York Times. He has received numerous distinguished awards for his body of work.

His works spoke of the importance of community, connecting with his African American culture and the preservation of children’s folktales. Children’s books he worked on include The Lion and the Mouse (featured on this month’s ArtsNews cover), Billie Holiday’s God Bless the Child, Aesop’s Fables, The Jungle Book, and many more. In his Artist Statement, he expressed: “I want to lead the viewer into my imagination—a world that exists inside these pictures…My wish for each [book I’ve illustrated] is that all ages will be able to find something that touches them in some way.”

Locally, he served as a Trustee on the Board of the Katonah Museum of Art (KMA) and exhibited at KMA, Hudson River Museum and ArtsWestchester, which honored him with an Arts Award in 2012.

In addition to his extensive work in children’s books, Pinkney had over thirty solo exhibitions, and appeared in more than one hundred group shows in the United States. His paintings have also been exhibited in Japan, Russia, Italy, Taiwan, Jamaica and Bermuda and can be found in many private and permanent collections, including the Library of Congress, New York Public Library, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and more.​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A version of this article first appeared in the November issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.​​​