Lillian Pitt Public Artwork: “Voices,” at the Oregon Convention Center

Lillian Pitt’s “Voices” is a series of twenty six bronze relief plaques located in the Oregon Convention Center and are part of the Center’s Public Art project. Her work is the largest collection of public art by a Native American artist in any public space within the City of Portland. Ten artists were selected through a public invitation process to produce work for the center’s permanent collection, one of the most varied convention center art programs in the country.

The twenty-six plaques in the exhibit represent the voices of Native people throughout the region. Lillian is a descendent of Wasco, Yakama and Warm Springs ancestors, and she felt it was her obligation to honor all of the Native peoples of the region in her work.

Lillian states, “My goal wasn’t just to produce public art but to educate viewers about the rich cultures and history of the various Native peoples who lived throughout Oregon.” She further states, “We titled the work “Voices” because we thought of the plaques as giving our ancestors a voice … giving them an opportunity to be heard in this modern world where the memory of them is otherwise being drowned by progress.”

Lillian Pitt is a Pacific Northwest Native American artist. She was born and raised on the Warm Springs reservation in Oregon and her ancestors lived in and near the Columbia River Gorge for over 10,000 years. The focus of her work is on creating contemporary fine art pieces that delight today’s art lovers, and at the same time, honor the history and legends of her people.

For more information about Lillian Pitt’s work and a list of her other public art pieces to view in the area, please visit her public art archive.