Eugene Scene’s Randi Bjornstad shares Lillian Pitt’s stories and art

Viz City’s conversation with Lillian Pitt on KLCC

Jessica Douglas sheds light on Lillian Pitt and her art for Eugene Weekly

Gifts from My Ancestors

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Lillian Pitt

Opening Reception: October 19, Saturday, 2:00-4:30 p.m.

Exhibition Dates: October 19 – December 7

Born on the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon, Lillian Pitt is one of the most highly regarded Native American artists in the Pacific Northwest. A descendant of Wasco, Yakama and Warm Springs people, Pitt creates work that draws on over 12,000 years of Native American history and tradition of the Columbia River region. She aims to give voice to her ancestors through her contemporary artistry, expressed in clay, bronze, wearable art, prints, and most recently, glass.

“Everything I do, regardless of the medium, is directly related to honoring my ancestors and giving voice to the people, the environment and the animals. It’s all about maintaining a link with tradition, and about honoring the many contributions my ancestors have made to this world.”

Lillian Pitt’s works have been exhibited regionally, nationally and internationally. They can also be found in public spaces, like parks, schools and cultural institutions throughout the Pacific Northwest. A notable example of these works is featured at the Vancouver Land Bridge, one of the seven “confluence” projects along the Columbia River, designed by renowned architect Maya Lin.

Pitt has received numerous awards and distinctions, including the 2007 Earle A. Chiles Award for Lifetime Achievement and the 1990 Governor’s Award of the Oregon Arts Commission, which declared that she had made “significant contributions to the growth and development of the cultural life of Oregon.”