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

Colorful folk art crayon drawing by naive artist Chief. aka Philip LeRoy Willey, aka Chief Willey, aka Chief aka Philo Levi .
Chief was self-taught artist working in a naive style. Philip Willey moved to New Orleans in 1932 and became chief of security at the New Orleans Sewage and Water Board. When he retired, he took up painting and drawing. In 1993, his paintings were included in an exhibition titled 'Passionate Visions of the American South from 1940 to the Present' held at the New Orleans Museum of Art.
This work, titled 'Ferry Crossing' depicts a street with manhole covers for utilities, dirt pathways, park benches, grass, trees, flowers, and ferry crossing with a docked boat named 'Chief'' on the bow of the boat and the smoke stack.


Color crayon 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