QUINCY PUGH RECEIVED A BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS DEGREE IN STUDIO ART FROM AUGUSTA(GA)UNIVERSITY IN 1982 AND A MASTER OF LIBRARIANSHIP FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA IN 1988. PUGH SERVED AS THE FILM AND SOUND MANAGER AT RICHLAND LIBRARY(COLUMBIA, SC) UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 2018. IN THAT CAPACITY, HE ALSO COORDINATED EXHIBITIONS AND WAS IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL RECOGNIZED ARTISTS AND ILLUSTRATORS. HE HELPED ESTABLISH THE LIBRARY’S AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURAL EVENTS COMMITTEE AND SERVED AS ITS CHAIR FOR NUMEROUS YEARS. HE WAS ALSO VERY ACTIVE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AND SERVED TERMS AS TREASURER AND PRESIDENT. HIS WORK AND SERVICE ALONG WITH A LOVE OF MUSIC, LITERATURE AND ART, KEPT HIM ENTRENCHED IN SOUTH CAROLINA’S CULTURAL COMMUNITY. SINCE HIS RETIREMENT HE HAS DEDICATED HIS TIME TO DEVELOPING A BODY OF WORK REFLECTIVE OF HIS COMMUNITY AND AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE.
Artist Statement
Pugh works primarily with oil but has been experimenting with acrylics more recently. He strives to illustrate the courage, struggle, and spirit of everyday southern African Americans. These are often relatives, acquaintances, and everyday heroes. He has a strong interest in honoring those unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Era and has also begun to depict contemporaries in the Black Lives Matter and Social Justice movements.
Pugh’s current and ongoing Mugshot Series includes portraits of George Stinney, Lena Baker, Martin Luther King, Jr., Fred Hampton, Bayard Rustin and Congressman John Lewis. He has honored Jim Crow victims and heroes by changing a negative image(mugshot) to a portrait of honor. He is also working on a series that highlights the patriotism of Black Southerners with original inspiration from Columbia, SC’s annual Veterans Day Parade. With the parade series, he has shown the strong patriotism depicted by a race of people who have not always been treated kindly by this country.
From Whence We Came (Family photo from the 1930s)
This photo was the inspiration for a painting I did while in college(see below). It depicts my material grandparents, who had ten children(eight at the time of the photo). My mother is standing in front of my grandfather (third from left). When I did the painting, I included what I guess was their home in the background but my professor(who was white) asked me to take it out. I wondered if it was some kind of guilt thing that made her ask that of me. Nevertheless, I did remove it and I am glad that I did. It’s was a distraction and its absence allowed me to focus on the pride of the family unit. My family has always been important to me in my work and my grandmother was my biggest inspiration and was the subject of numerous portraits. Thank you Big Mama and Big Daddy for always making me proud of my heritage and to always strive for excellence.
Love Always,
Quincy
Family Pride 48x60 Oil 1982