Remembering Cheap Joe Miller

Our hearts are heavy as we share the passing of our fearless leader and founder, Joe 'Cheap Joe' Miller, September 6, 2023.

Some of you have known Joe for many years and share the shock and sadness we are enduring. Joe lived his life demonstrating immense courage, gentleness, and a beloved spirit which we are all so lucky to have known him for.

Born on February 17, 1939, Joe’s life was always connected in some ways to the arts. While he initially set forth to become a taxidermist with dreams of becoming a museum conservator, he eventually settled in at UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Pharmacy. It was in practice at Boone Drug and while moonlighting as an artist that he began a small, corner 'shop' he jokingly named 'Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff.' The name stuck, and Joe later left his pharmacy career to grow Cheap Joe’s into a force in the art materials world.

Joe built a solid foundation at Cheap Joe’s - one rooted in personal, friendly, often humorous interactions. It was how he approached his customers (often personally delivering packages when traveling across the U.S.) and how he approached his business partners. It is with honor and great respect that we carry forward this tremendous legacy.

Joe’s passion and dedication to the art world earned him numerous accolades and awards - his highest honors being the recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, American Watercolor Society Dolphin Medal, North Carolina Order of the Long Leaf Pine, and NWS Arts and Humanities Award for his contributions to his extremely broad community.

It is at the request of Joe and his family in lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Brushes for Vincent - a charitable organization designed by Joe to give persons in distress healing through art.