In memoriam: Artist and philanthropist Patricia Buckley Moss
Well-known and beloved artist and philanthropist Patricia Buckley Moss, widely known as P. Buckley Moss, died July 13 surrounded by her family. Moss was an influential artist and philanthropist whose work and charity touched the lives and hearts of countless individuals.
In 2013, the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors named the university’s newly constructed 147,000-square-foot arts center the Moss Arts Center in her honor, in recognition of her generous pledge toward its construction as well as her prominence as an artist and advocate for arts education.
She was also named a fellow of Virginia Tech’s outreach programs and its Center for Organizational and Technological Advancement, partnering with the university to help expand access to outreach programs and experiences in the arts while supporting the university’s economic development efforts, particularly in Southwest and Southside Virginia.
In addition to her support of the Moss Arts Center, Moss was widely recognized for her philanthropy. Established in 1987, the P. Buckley Moss Society supports communities by raising money for numerous charities, while the P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children’s Education, created in 1995, encourages the use of visual and performing arts in educational programs, particularly those involving young people with learning differences.
Throughout her career, Moss became renowned for her distinctive artistic approach. Her paintings often depict rural landscapes, barns, and idyllic scenes that capture the essence of the American countryside. Moss also painted numerous scenes of Virginia Tech, including one of her most recent works, which depicts the new Corps Leadership and Military Science Building.
Her award-winning work has been featured in hundreds of prestigious galleries and museums around the world.
“Pat Moss was a treasured member of our community. Her lifelong commitment to the arts, both as an artist and as a strong proponent for arts education, is a legacy that will continue to have impact for decades. We will miss her presence here tremendously,” said Ruth Waalkes, Virginia Tech’s associate provost for the arts and executive director of the Moss Arts Center.
