BY YAYOI LENA WINFREY for WEEKLY VOLCANO | 10/30/2026
While she’s best known for founding the Asia Pacific Cultural Center in Tacoma, and having an affordable senior housing complex named for her, Patsy Surh O’Connell is also a notable artist.
Juggling a myriad of duties while keeping the APCC fruitful and Patsy Suhr Place operational, O’Connell also finds time to devote to her art.
Currently, she’s participating in two separate exhibits. Through Dec. 11, her work can be viewed at South Puget Sound Community College as part of a Korean women’s group exhibit titled “From Hwagae Market to Pike Place Market.”
One of her pieces, “Beyond Myself,” is a mixed-media banner featuring crows taking flight.
O’Connell is also simultaneously showing at Postmark Center for the Arts in Auburn along with 46 other Korean artists.
The recipient of multiple awards for her community leadership, O’Connell has amassed numerous honors for her artwork. She also taught college-level art for 37 years.
With her gleaming silver hair, she’s ubiquitous at local Asian Pacific Island arts festivals, often seen wearing a traditional Korean hanbok in brilliant colors.
Born to Korean parents living in Shanghai, China, O’Connell grew up with two brothers: one is two years older and the other is two years younger.
“Since I was the only girl,” she says, “I got lots of attention from my parents.”
She remembers that her mother was like her friend while her father always called her “gomyung ddal” or “an only daughter” — a term of endearment that’s celebrated in Korean culture.
Early in life, O’Connell developed an interest in art. However, her family was unable to provide her with a sketchbook, so she cleverly used her father’s typewriter paper to draw.
Her resourceful nature also led to her making dolls from worn-out socks and handbags from sample materials. Additionally, her mother taught her how to knit and crochet.
“I also made my own blouses out of my father’s old shirts,” O’Connell says. “When I copied paper dolls from the magazines, my parents gave me a thumbs up!”
Her middle and high schools had an art department, so she spent a lot of time creating projects with an assortment of media.
She also patronized a private studio where she learned to draw busts with charcoal.
Recognizing his daughter’s artistic talent, O’Connell’s father sent her to Rudolph Schaeffer School of Design in San Francisco where she studied interior design, weaving, flower arrangement, table setting, and color theory.
After she married her Army dentist husband, O’Connell accompanied him to Japan, Okinawa, and Korea, where she continued to master arts and crafts including ikebana (Japanese flower arranging), batik, ceramics, and sumi-e (Japanese ink painting).
In 1985, O’Connell arrived in Washington state alongside her husband so he could finish his last years of assignment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
She recalls first having a vision about a cultural center celebrating Asians and Pacific Islanders in 1996.
“My husband and I retired in 1990 and built our home in Gig Harbor,” she explains. “Five years later, we brought my parents from Korea.”
Unfortunately, they were in their 80s by then and in poor health.
“When my father passed away in 1996, I was devastated,” says O’Connell. “I wanted to do something.”
Because her father strongly believed that culture was significant, O’Connell yearned to honor his vision. Thus, the Asia Pacific Cultural Center was born.
Grateful that her dream has been fulfilled, O’Connell states, “I know many immigrants to this country from anywhere are just like me — proud of their culture.”
And, she believes they enjoy sharing their culture with others.
“I didn’t realize how many from countries in Asia and in the Pacific Islands are not able to do that without the space to gather,” she adds.
So she developed the “Taste of Asia” series, which two years ago was renamed “Taste of Asia Pacific” in order to be more inclusive.
The series showcases presenters who prepare regional cuisine before serving it to audience members.
“They bring so many different communities to share what they eat, how to prepare, how to shop, and sometimes their cultural artifacts,” O’Connell notes. “It is so heartwarming to see how proud they are to share their knowledge with others.”
One of O’Connell’s hopes for APCC’s future is to acquire more space. Currently, it’s housed in a colorful, two-story building surrounded by the lushness of South Park on South Tacoma Way.
“I would love to see branch offices in distant cities, or those countries that we represent,” she states. “I’m saying this because people have been asking for them.”
She further explains that geography makes it difficult for some to participate in APCC activities.
“Also, we need a place for invited international guests to stay,” she points out, adding that their use of short-term rentals is too expensive for their limited budget.
“Our international connections create much-needed inspiration to grow here, to re-energize and learn what the motherlands are currently doing,” she adds.
A longtime advocate for Asian Pacific Island artists, O’Connell makes it possible for creators to display their work in the Jade Choe Gallery at APCC. With artist Kellis Parlett curating, many first-time exhibitors as well as experienced artists have an opportunity to present their creations publicly.
As for her own artwork, O’Connell is planning a one-woman show in Seattle this summer. She’s also exhibiting overseas.
“The IOI International Association of Artists representing eight different countries will have a third show in Sweden in 2027,” she says. “Our USA members and I will be there.”
The member countries include Sweden, Germany, France, Italy, China, Korea, Japan, and the U.S.
“In 2028, the event will be held in China,” she reveals — ironically, in the country where her life began.
IF YOU GO
“From Hwagae Market to Pike Place Market”
Leonor Fuller Gallery
South Puget Sound Community College
Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts
2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia
Sept. 14 to Dec. 11
Korean American Artists Association of Washington
Postmark Center for the Arts
20 Auburn Avenue, Auburn
Oct. 21 to Jan. 8, 2027
