Woodmere’s Jerry Pinkney exhibit captivates visitors with stunning artwork and engaging displays.

The Woodmere Art Museum’s latest exhibition, “Soul, Sound, and Voice: The Art of Jerry Pinkney,” is a poignant tribute to the work of the celebrated illustrator and author who made significant contributions to children’s literature. The exhibit, located in Charles Knox Hall, immerses visitors in the rich tapestry of Pinkney’s oeuvre, highlighting his dynamic intersection of art and music.

Among the standout pieces is a striking black-and-white watercolor portrait of the iconic Stevie Wonder, created by Pinkney for Black Enterprise magazine in 1975. This work captures Wonder as a young artist poised for greatness, complete with a recognizable baby Afro and distinctive sideburns, while a tambourine floats above him, suggesting the celestial nature of his impending success. Such pieces underscore Pinkney’s talent for conveying emotion and narrative through his art.

Pinkney began his illustrious career in 1964 with illustrations for Joyce Cooper Arkhurst’s The Adventures of Spider: West African Folktales. Over the course of his more than four-decade career, he illustrated over 100 books that infused African American culture and history into children’s literature. Notably, he was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 2010 for The Lion & The Mouse, marking him as the first Black artist to receive this prestigious honor as a solo creator. His death in 2021 left a significant void in the artistic community.

Although he moved from Germantown to Croton-on-Hudson, New York, in 1970, Pinkney maintained a close relationship with the Woodmere Art Museum, where a significant portion of his works are displayed. Among those is Mary, a life-size watercolor of an African woman interred in New York City’s African Burial Ground, a poignant reminder of the historical narratives often overlooked.

The exhibition also showcases illustrations from Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman, which will be featured in the museum’s new Frances M. Maguire Hall beginning November 1. The show is designed to highlight the connection between Pinkney’s art and music—a theme that resonated deeply with him, as he noted in discussions with Woodmere’s executive director, William R. Valerio. Pinkney believed that music was integral to understanding his artistic expression.

The exhibit combines elements from both commercial and personal projects, with displays of his work for diverse venues, including album covers for Porgy and Bess. Visitors can experience the rhythm of his illustrations, which feature imagery of influential Black musicians, encapsulating the vibrant culture of the late 20th century. Pieces celebrating figures like Jelly Roll Morton and Ma Rainey enrich the narrative he depicted through his intricate work.

Valerio emphasizes Pinkney’s stature among the finest watercolorists of our time, able to stand alongside artists such as Winslow Homer and John Singer Sargent. The exhibit runs through February 15 and represents a unique opportunity for audiences to engage with the artistry of Jerry Pinkney, a man whose illustrations have not only captivated children but also imparted essential lessons about identity, history, and the power of dreams. This exhibition, co-sponsored by the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, invites visitation from Wednesday to Sunday, with affordable admission prices to ensure accessibility.

For those wanting to explore the intersection of artistic styles and musical influences, “Soul, Sound, and Voice: The Art of Jerry Pinkney” is a compelling testament to a legacy that continues to inspire.

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