Joe Pinckney

Joe Pinckney was first and foremost a brilliant story teller. The perspective of his story telling of the Gullah Culture was quite unique.

He moved to Hilton Head Island from New York City in his teens. This would place him in NYC just after the Harlem Renaissance, the first great flowering of Black Culture in the United States. Hilton Head and Daufuskie Island were geographically isolated at this time. This isolation resulted in a community that was cohesive and preserved African Culture traditions, Gullah. Mr. Pinckney told stories of his memories and the stunning visual contrasts between New York City and the barrier islands of South Carolina. He was inspired by the perseverance of the people.

For thirty plus years Pinckney recorded the history of the Gullah People. He studied Art at The New York School of Industrial Arts and the Manhattan School of Printing. and received a prestigious scholarship from The Norman Rockwell Foundation.

Joe Pinckney died on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina on November 22, 2005. His worked has been shown at The Smithsonian Museum, The Gibbs Museum, Coastal Discovery Museum , and held in Private Collections throughout the United States .