A native of Philadelphia, Jerry studied at the Philadelphia College of Art (now the University of the Arts) where, in 1992 he received the Alumni Award.  He has been illustrating children’s books since 1964, illustrating over one hundred titles and has been the recipient of a Caldecott Medal, five Caldecott Honor Medals, five Coretta Scott King Awards and has four Coretta Scott King Honor Awards.  His books have been translated into eleven languages, and published in fourteen different countries.  Furthermore, he has received nine awards for a body of work.  In 2003, he received the Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University.  Also, Jerry was a United States nominee for the 1997 Hans Christian Andersen Illustration Medal.  He was awarded four gold medals, four silver medals, the Hamilton King Award, four New York Times Best Illustrated Book awards, and in 2006 the Original Art’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Illustrators, New York, NY.

In addition to his work in children’s books, Jerry has had over thirty one-man retrospectives at venues ranging from the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL to the California African American Museum, Los Angeles, CA.  He has exhibited in over one hundred group shows in the USA, Japan, Russia, Italy, Taiwan and Jamaica.  Jerry has illustrated for a wide variety of clients, including the U.S. Postal Service, National Park Service, and National Geographic.  Jerry created art for the Harry Chapin Run Against Hunger commemorative poster, a foundation that helps bring food to those in need. He was invited to create a painting for the 30th Bologna Book Fait, Bologna, Italy and the NASA Art Collection at the John F. Kennedy Space Center.  He was appointed to serve on the U.S. Postal Services Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee (1982-1992).  In 2001 Jerry was invited by Laura Bush to illustrate and design the White House Christmas Program.  He has held professorships teaching art at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY; the University of Delaware, Newark, DE; and the University of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY.  In 2003, Jerry was appointed to the National Council of the Arts – NEA (2003-2009). His art can be found in the permanent collections at the Library of Congress, the New York Public Library, the Delaware Art Museum and the Brandywine River Art Museum.

His works have been featured in The New York Times, Arts Section, American Artists Magazine, The Horn Book Magazine, The CBS Sunday Morning Show and PBS Reading Rainbow Room.  Pinkney is also a past trustee for the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and the Katonah Museum of Art.  He lives with his wife, author Gloria Jean, in Westchester County, NY.