Cover illustration for “John Henry,” Jerry Pinkney, 1994. ©1994 Jerry Pinkney Studio. All rights reserved.

Nothing I had read or seen prepared me for the depth of the history he brings to life.–“Berkshire Eagle”

Experience the art of Jerry Pinkney, a master of the American picturebook whose unforgettable visual narratives reflect deeply felt personal and cultural themes, bearing witness to the African-American experience, the wonders of classic literature, and the wisdom in well-loved folk tales. A belief in the ability of images to speak about and to humanity is at this legendary artist’s core. His artworks celebrating life’s small but extraordinary moments and significant historical events reflect the  power of visual storytelling in our lives, “becoming the voice that others may not have had.”

Honoring an artistic journey that has continued for fifty years, Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney features luminous watercolor paintings and richly detailed drawings created for best-loved books and carefully-researched historical commissions. Original illustrations for The Lion and The Mouse, The Old African, John Henry, Black Cowboys/Wild Horses, Uncle Remus: The Complete Tales, The Sweethearts of Rhythm, The Little Match Girl and other books, and for such site-specific commissions as the African Burial Ground Interpretive Center in New York City; National Parks Service Carver National Monument in Missouri; and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Ohio, will be on view.

A popular and critically acclaimed artist, Jerry Pinkney was recently presented with the prestigious Caldecott Medal, awarded to the illustrator of the most distinguished American picturebook for children that year. The recipient of five Caldecott Honor Medals, five Coretta Scott King Awards, four Coretta Scott King Honor Awards, and a life time achievement award from the Society of Illustrators in New York, the artist has also served on the Board of the National Endowment for the Arts, and on the National Postal Service’s Citizen Stamp Advisory Council.

Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney is made possible, in part, with generous support from Penguin Group, Inc. and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, A division of The Hatchette Group.

Learn more about Jerry Pinkney on the artist’s website: www.jerrypinkneystudio.com