Pearl Mintzer

October 2026 Issue
Lowcountry Originals 2026

Photography provided by Pearl Mintzer

Pearl Mintzer

Art: Theatre Sets/Props
Family: Husband, Chuck; Son, Evan
Current Residence: Hilton Head Island
Hometown: New York City, NY
Career: Artist / Entrepreneur
Art (Medium): Oil, acrylic, photography, digital and mixed media

When and how did you discover your artistic talent? How and/or why did you choose your medium? What do you love about it?
I discovered my artistic talent in kindergarten. My teacher, Mrs. Skaling, asked the class, “Who is the best artist in the class?” I immediately answered, “Me!” Apparently, she believed me. Instead of dismissing the confidence of a 5-year-old, she gave me an opportunity to prove it. Mrs. Skaling had me paint a mural. That experience stayed with me. I have always loved the freedom of creating something that didn’t exist before I made it.

My creativity eventually became part of my career in an unexpected way. I owned an incentive marketing company that designed and manufactured “Gift With Purchase” promotions for cosmetics companies. My ability to create the artwork and designs myself gave me a tremendous advantage. When a cosmetics company needed an idea, I could design it and respond immediately. Larger companies often took much longer to respond. I would sometimes get the order before they had even responded to the client.

That experience taught me that being creative isn’t enough—you have to be willing to experiment, move quickly, and turn an idea into reality.

Over the years, my art has evolved. I work with photography, oil, acrylic, digital imagery, and mixed media. I particularly enjoy combining traditional painting with technology. I might begin with one of my own photographs, manipulate and enlarge it digitally, print it on canvas, and then paint over it with acrylic.

I love that I don’t have to choose between being a painter, photographer or digital artist. They are simply different tools for being creative.

What are three words you would use to describe yourself?
Creative, curious and determined. I’ve always been curious about how things work and what might happen if I tried something differently. Determination is probably just as important as creativity. Once I get an idea in my head, I want to see where it can go.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in pursuing and honoring your talent?
My biggest challenge has been giving myself permission to be different. There is always a temptation for artists to paint what people expect to see or what seems easiest to sell. Living in the Lowcountry, there is certainly no shortage of beautiful sunsets, flowers, birds, boats and beach scenes—and I love many of those things myself.

But I am much more interested in asking, “What can I do that is a little different?”
I don’t want my art to look like everyone else’s. I want people to stop, look at it, and wonder what I was thinking. Technology has helped me do that because it has opened up an entirely new vocabulary for my work.

What do you hope people who view your art “get” out of it?
I hope they feel something. Maybe a painting makes them smile. Maybe it reminds them of a place they have visited or a person they love. Maybe they see something familiar in an entirely new way.

I don’t necessarily want to tell people what they should see. I want to give them an opportunity to see what they see. For me, creativity is about curiosity. I love it when someone looks at one of my paintings and starts a conversation about it.

In your artistic pursuits, what is your proudest moment so far?
Two moments stand out. Receiving Best in Show at Penn Medicine was an incredible honor. It was especially gratifying to have my work recognized for its creativity and artistic impact.

Being selected for the Hilton Head Island Biennale and winning an award was another very proud moment. Having my work chosen for such an important local exhibition was a wonderful validation of my continuing artistic journey. But honestly, I think what makes me proudest is I am still experimenting. I could easily say, “I’ve done enough.” Instead, I find myself asking, “What can I try next?” I have never been particularly interested in simply repeating what I have already done. I like learning, experimenting and pushing myself into new territory.

If you could take a year off with no financial or time restraints, what would you spend a year doing, with whom would you do it, where and why?
I would travel with my husband, Chuck, and take photographs everywhere. I would want to spend time in places with completely different cultures, architecture, landscapes and people—not simply checking destinations off a list but staying long enough to really see and experience them. I suspect that by the end of the year, I would have thousands of photographs and an enormous backlog of paintings waiting to happen. That sounds pretty close to heaven to me.

What do you want to scream from a mountain top about the importance of art, creativity, or life in general?
Don’t be afraid to be different! Art doesn’t have to look like someone else’s art, and your creative life doesn’t have to follow anyone else’s rules.

How can we see your work?
I'd love for you to check out my work. You can see it in person at SOBA Gallery in Bluffton and online at pearlmintzer.com