Philo Levi 'Chief' Willey
(American, 1887-1980)

Naive folk art drawing by Philip LeRoy Willey, aka Chief Willey, aka Chief aka Philo Levi .
Chief was a self-taught artist who worked in a naive style.
He was born in Connecticut and moved to New Orleans in 1932 where he became chief of security for the New Orleans Sewage and Water Board.
When he retired, he took up painting and began selling his works.
In 1993 his works were included in an exhibition called 'Passionate Visions of the American South from 1940 to the Present', an exhibition held at the New Orleans Museum of Art.
This work, titled 'Cool Drink' is a depiction of a hillside with trees, flowers, birds, a turtle, several goats, a rabbit, and two human figures at leisure under a tree, with a creek or irrigation canal nearby.

Colored pencil on paper
1970


Measurements
11.5" x 15.5" sight size, and 17.25" x 21" x 1" overall including framing


Notes
Signed
Housed in a contemporary frame under plexiglass.


Condition
Excellent condition