Woolley, Virginia B.

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Woolley, Virginia B.

Woolley, Virginia B. (1884-1971).

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Laguna Beach Coast, Calif by Virginia B. Woolley (1884-1971)

12" x 24", Oil/Canvas, Signed Lower Left

Est.: $600 - $900
Sold by John Moran Auctioneers for $4,125 on 6/6/2000
ARTIST WORLD RECORD

Born in Selma, AL on Aug. 27, 1884.

Woolley grew up in Atlanta, GA. Having opted for an art career, she moved to Chicago in 1904 to study at the AIC under Freer and Vanderpoel, and from there continued her art studies for three years in Paris with Jacques Blanche, Lucien Simon, and Richard Miller.

While in Paris she sketched throughout the countryside and exhibited at the Paris Salon.

After returning to Atlanta, she taught art at Woodbury School. Having visited Laguna Beach years before by means of stage coach, she decided to make it her home in 1923. Woolley taught adult outdoor classes and gave free lessons to children at the Art Gallery where she was curator.

She was a founder of the Festival of Arts in 1932 and active in Laguna until her death on Feb. 15, 1971.

Exh: Atlanta AA; Southern States Art League; Laguna Beach AA, 1923-62; Pasadena Art Inst., 1928, 1933; Calif. Statewide (Santa Cruz), 1931; Palos Verdes Library, 1931; Laguna Festival of Arts, 1932-70; Calif. State Fairs; Atlanta (GA) Artists Guild, 1934; Bank of America (Laguna Beach), 1938; Woman’s Club (Pasadena), 1940; Riverside AA, 1941; Laguna Beach Museum, 1944 (solo); Arts & Crafts Club (San Clemente), 1960.

In: Laguna Museum; High Museum (Atlanta); Orange County (CA) Museum.

Source:
Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940"
So. Calif. Painters 1890-1940; Southern California Artists (Nancy Moure); American Art Annual 1913-33; Who's Who in American Art 1936-62; Women Artists of the American West; Los Angeles Times, 7-19-1970; Laguna News Post, 2-17-1971 (obituary).

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