The art world is in mourning after learning today that P. Buckley Moss died on Saturday after a short illness. She was 91.
Born on May 20, 1933, Patricia Moss discovered her passion for art at a young age. Moss was dyslexic. She discovered her artistic potential and enrolled in a high school for the fine arts, and later, graduated from New York’s Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.
Moss’ art, signed under the name P. Buckley Moss, often depicted Amish and Mennonite communities and resonated with audiences throughout the world. She was known for pieces featuring rural landscapes, barns and idyllic scenes in intricate detail showcasing simplicity, community and faith.
According to her obituary, in addition to art, she was enthusiastic about travel and food. She embraced activities including skiing, windsurfing and had a lifelong passion for gardening.
Through her philanthropy and art, Moss’ legacy will live on.
In 1995, she established the P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children’s Education whose mission is to support children with learning differences and promote the importance of integrating art into education.
The P. Buckley Moss gallery relocated to 329 W. Main St. in downtown Waynesboro a decade ago. The former location for the gallery and museum, in the city’s West End near the Town Center, was recently torn down to make room for an apartment community.
Virginia Tech named its $100 million arts center in her name: The Moss Arts Center. She committed $10 million to the project; one of the largest gifts the university has ever received.
“The arts can change people’s hearts, change their minds, and change their lives,” Moss said in a 2013 news release announcing the opening of the arts center.
“I was lucky enough to find them at a young age, and they opened up so many learning avenues and professional opportunities for me. That is why I am so excited about the impact this wonderful facility will make on thousands of people, young and old, across this entire region of our state.”
A celebration of life for Moss will be announced by her family at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children’s Education, the American Cancer Society or the Glioblastoma Foundation.
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Crystal Graham
