Philo Levi “Chief” Willey

1887 - 1980

Born in 1887 in Connecticut, Willey left home at the age of 12.  He worked in a wholesale grocery in New Haven, CT and then traveled around the country.  During this time, Willey labored at various jobs, including farmer, lumberman, fireman, deckhand on a steamboat, and wagon driver for Barnum and Bailey.  In 1932, he settled in New Orleans and worked his way up to chief police officer of the local sewage and water board.  Willey retired in 1966 and subsequently began to paint, often displaying his work in Jackson Square. Willey observed and captured many traditional New Orleans scenes.  As a visionary, he created an iconographic vocabulary of imaginary figures.  Willey’s paintings possess an organized layered composition.  He initially used watercolor on paper; later he employed acrylic on Masonite. ⁵