Remembering Kathleen Tyson Dunne

By Alexa Williams

Our beloved neighbor and renowned artist passed on April 28, 2026, at 93.

Kathleen (Kathy) had many friends and collectors in Hollywoodland where she was inspired to begin her noteworthy painting career after moving here in the mid ‘80s. She was partial to landscapes which featured beautifully portrayed nature with the colorful flora and homes in her surrounding hills. She started her career path in advertising, creating storyboards for Mattel Toy Co. and she also was a children’s book illustrator before evolving into an artist of world renown reputation.

To that end she began what was the adventure of her life, selling her home here in the hills and moving with two dogs and two cats to Orbicciano, Italy (Tuscany) in 1999. Kathy set up residence in a 500-year-old farmhouse, which being rather large (3 stories) afforded her comfortable space with a large room as her art studio overlooking the vineyards and olive groves of the surrounding grounds of the much larger Sforza Villa, the property owners of historic note. She went as far as obtaining her European citizenship through her Irish ancestry and, thus, enjoyed all the privileges of Italian living as in getting a driver’s license and taking an Italian language course in nearby Lucca, a medieval walled in city in Tuscany. She gained a following for her artistic endeavors in Europe (especially in Italy) during her stay.

Kathy was a devoted animal lover, as evidenced by taking two dogs and two cats with her on her “adventure”. She had two Briards, Sebastian and Sophie, and two cats, Putty and Pussy. What an accomplishment moving her household and beloved animals to Italy! Yes, Kathy made portraits of her animals, too. As time passed, she said “goodbye” to each of her dear animal friends and then decided to adopt a stray dog which she named Rosie who only understood Italian. Rosie eventually came back to California with Kathy when, because of her eyesight, she was no longer able to drive. Kathy was warmly welcomed back by her family in La Crescenta to live and paint and enjoy her later years.

After Kathy returned from Italy, she was honored by Hollywoodland which hosted a retrospective of her artwork and life her in the community. This event took place during the 100 Year Celebration of Hollywoodland in 2023. She really enjoyed the opportunity to re-connect with her friends and neighbors and was touched by the recognition.

Kathy is survived by her daughter, Kerry, and son-in-law, Drew, and her three grandchildren, Tristan, Katie and Rice. Kathy’s brother, Thomas, and her other daughter, Krissy, pre-deceased her