Lillian Pitt Biography

Lillian Pitt is a Native American artist from the Big River (Columbia River) region of the Pacific Northwest. Born on the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon, she is a descendent of Wasco, Yakama, and Warm Springs people.

She is one of the most highly regarded Native American artists in the Pacific Northwest. Her works have been exhibited and reviewed regionally, nationally and internationally, and she has been the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions. Her awards include 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.”

Primarily a sculptor and mixed media artist, Lillian’s lifetime of works include artistic expressions in clay, bronze, wearable art, prints, and most recently, glass. The focus of her work draws on over 12,000 years of Native American history and tradition of the Columbia River region. Regardless of the medium she chooses to use, Lillian’s contemporary works are all aimed at giving voice to her people. “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’s works are found in personal collections, art galleries and museums. They are also found in numerous public spaces including parks, schools and cultural institutions throughout the region. Her most recent public works are featured at the Vancouver Land Bridge, one of the seven “confluence” projects along the Columbia River, designed by internationally renowned architect Maya Lin.

Education:
Mount Hood Community College, Associate of Arts Degree, 1981 Education

Awards:
High Desert Museum Chiles Award for Lifetime Achievement, Bend, OR Awards:
First People’s Fund, Community Spirit Award, Rapid City, SD
Indian Art Northwest, 1st place, Ceramics, Portland, OR
Indian Art Northwest, 2nd place, Jewelry, Portland, OR
Governor’s Award for the Arts, Oregon

Commissions:
Vancouver Land Bridge, Confluence Project, Vancouver, WA Commissions:
Central Oregon Community College, Bend, OR
Hillsboro Civic Center, Hillsboro, OR
Oregon State Lands Division, Salem, OR
Warm Springs Tribal Council, Warm Springs,OR
Native American Student Center, Portland State University, Portland, OR
Art on Alberta Street, Portland, OR
Oregon Convention Center Expansion Project, Metropolitan Regional Arts and Culture Council, Portland, OR
Salmon In The City Public Art Project, Seattle Arts Commission, Seattle, WA.
Portland Blvd. Station, Interstate Ave. light rail station (MAX), Portland, OR
Warm Springs Senior Center, Warm Springs,OR
Army Corps Of Engineers, Columbia River Treaty In-lieu Fishing Access Sites, Columbia Gorge, OR
Grand Ronde Health and Wellness Building, Grand Ronde, OR
Oregon State Bar Association, Portland, OR
State of Oregon, Oregon Liquor
Control Commission
Indianhead Gaming Center, Warm Springs, OR
Native Arts Council of the Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR
Northwest Women Studies Association, Grand Prize, NWWSA Conference, Bellingham, WA
Washington State Historical Museum, permanent exhibit, Tacoma, WA
Washington State Ferry System, Ferry “Wenatchee”
Fiddleheads & Bella Coola Restaurants, Portland, OR
Series of Masks for “Bridge of the Gods” Puppet Play, Tears of Joy Theater, Portland, OR
Gorge Discovery Center, The Dalles, OR
Spirit Mountain Casino, Grand Ronde, OR

Selected Collections:
Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR Selected
City of Lake Oswego, Lake Oswego, OR
Burke Museum, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Yakama Cultural Heritage Museum, Toppenish, WA
Permanent Collection of Contemporary Native American Art, Heard Museum, Phoenix, AZ
R.C. Gorman, Taos, NM
Indian Arts & Crafts Board, Washington, DC
Nieman Marcus, Minneapolis, MN
Washington State Arts Commission, Art in Public Places, Three Public Schools, and the Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA
City of Oguni, Japan
Sapporo City Hall, Sapporo, Japan
Seattle Arts Commission, Percent for Art, Seattle, WA
Dean Pak, Director Chamgbuk School of Dentistry, Changbuk, Korea
University of Hokkaido School of Dentistry, Sapporo, Japan
Portland Community College, Portland, OR
Percent for Art Purchase Program, Metropolitan Arts Commission, Portland, OR
Maryhill Museum, Goldendale, WA