Barbara Kay Toohil

BARBARA’S LEGACY

Earlier in her career, legacy artist, Barbara Kay Toohil traveled various prominent fashion capitals of the world including New York City, Milan and Paris as a fashion designer. Toohil graced cities and more with her designs of handmade clothing, including hats and Japanese Shibori scarves often made for celebrities while staying connected to her roots in Boston, Massachusetts. Aside from being a fashion designer, Toohil was also an artist, creator, author, and jewelry maker. With her husband, Peter Toohil, she co-authored the book, Accents on Artists, audio pronunciation companion, and they later created the board game, Fine Art the Collector’s Choice. Toohil’s private art collection includes the works of collagist and oil painter, Amy Griffith Colley, and Wyoming Valley’s own Designer Extraordinaire, Janet “Jefie” Flack. Her private collection also includes a collection of Fiesta chinaware which was amassed over a 50 year period.

Toohil graduated from Hazleton High School in 1967, before attending Endicott College in Massachusetts for her Bachelor’s Degree and later attended Massachusetts College of Art for her Master’s of Fine Arts Degree in 1973. Toohil served her community as a member of the Board of Directors for non-profit organizations, Hazleton Art League and Brandon’s Forever Home.

The art exhibition bearing her name will run from November 3rd to November 26th, 2023 at the Hazleton Art League.