Phyllis J Garibay-Coon

Born to Helen M Garibay and William E Coon, Phyllis was raised on a farm in Kingman County, KS as the youngest of ten children. After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Kansas State University, she began her career as a graphic designer at Willoughby Design in Kansas City.

In early 1991, she moved to Louisiana where she began painting while free lancing as a graphic designer and raising her 3 young children. During her time in Louisiana she had the opportunity to participate in several local gallery shows.

She returned to Manhattan, KS with her family in 1997. Since then she has participated in many local gallery shows as well as a variety of both public and private commissions and a few out of state gallery shows in New Mexico & Louisiana. She works mostly in oil, painting large scale figurative pieces which tell a story or comment on the human condition. Some of her shows also contain art pieces designed on salvaged furniture that complement the paintings.

She continues to enjoy and artists life in the community of Manhattan, KS. Most notably, in January of 2025, Phyllis became the first woman to install a permanent art piece in the Kansas State Capital. Her painting “Rebel Women” honors 13 trailblazing Kansas women who were instrumental in the winning women the right to vote, not only in Kansas, but in the United States.

Her artwork can be seen locally at the following:

Rock-a-Belly Deli, Bourbon & Baker, Bluestem Bistro, Taco Lucha, So Long Saloon, Manhattan Brewing Company, Downtown Dental, Kansas State Bank, Bank of the Flint Hills, & the Sunset Zoo.