Obituary, Patricia Woolley

Patricia Woolley

Dec. 12, 1933 – Jan. 5, 2024

Long time SPAA artist and member Pat Woolley died the morning of Jan. 5. The San Pedro Art Association, where Pat sat on the board as Historian Chairperson for many years, released a statement calling Woolley “an amazing artist, woman and world traveler and that she was an integral part of SPAA.”

Pat operated an art gallery with the late Gloria D. Lee. Together they showed their artwork in their shared space until a few years ago. After Gloria passed away, Pat made the choice to close the gallery in order to enjoy her retirement.

Pat lived in Manhattan Beach, California. Born in France, Pat studied at the Academie Julian in Paris and at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. Although an avid lover and painter of teddy bears, Pat also paints landscapes, figures and still life. She traveled to Provence, France each year to paint the village scenes and country landscapes she loved. Her work can be found in private collections in the U.S.A. and Europe.

During the late 1960’s Pat was a part of the Palos Verdes Puppeteers where she participated in hand puppet and marionette shows. Known as “the puppet lady” Pat also taught classes on how to make, keep and use a puppet.

A folklorist, Pat has conducted workshops in Ukrainian egg decoration. She taught at the Museum of Natural History and Los Angeles County Museum of Art. She was a craft teacher with the Manhattan Beach Recreation Department. Pat was also an illustrator, and painter, using pen and ink as her main mediums. She was an award-winning illustrator of the Thrift Store Bear Book series — the work she said she was most proud of — which she self-published in 2007.

Pat has exhibited at the Palos Verdes Art Center, Torrance Art Museum, Kimball Art Center in Utah’s Park Center Galleries and Destination: Art of the South Bay among others. She was also a member of the International Acrylic Association and the National Watercolor Society.

Pat is survived by her immediate family and many longtime friends. 

“What an amazing gift Pat was to everyone that ever had the pleasure of meeting her. An artist and a lover of life and love. Pat will be missed by all of us at SPAA for some time to come,” —San Pedro Art Association. 

A service for Pat will take place at 1p.m., Feb. 10 at St. Cross Episcopal Church, 1818 Monterey Blvd., Hermosa Beach.