A globally exhibited artist with longstanding influence in the Northwest, Pitt uses clay, glass and mixed media to celebrate the voices of Native people throughout the region.
ROSEBURG, Ore. — The Ford Family Foundation’s Visual Arts Program is proud to announce Lillian Pitt (Warm Springs, Wasco, Yakama) as the inaugural recipient of the 1905 Legacy Award.
Lillian Pitt. Photo: Sam Gehrke / Lillian Pitt, Little Opossum Girl, 1990, clay and glass beads, Collection of the Portland Art Museum, Gift of Phyllis Koven
Named in honor of Hallie E. Ford’s birth year, the 1905 Legacy Award recognizes outstanding Oregon artists whose extensive careers and sustained excellence have significantly impacted the artistic community of Oregon. The Foundation grants one $50,000 unrestricted award every five years.  It is bestowed by nomination and reviewed by an anonymous panel of arts professionals. The 1905 Legacy Award joins the Hallie Ford Fellowship in the Foundation’s Visual Arts program as a further demonstration of Hallie Ford’s deep commitment to supporting Oregon artists.
“We are pleased to honor Hallie Ford’s vision for Oregon visual arts with the 1905 Legacy Award,” says Kara Inae Carlisle, president and CEO of The Ford Family Foundation. “I cannot think of a more fitting inaugural recipient than Lillian, whose lifelong dedication to culture, craft and community has brought joy to so many while honoring the history and legends of her people.”
Pitt’s artwork has been exhibited globally, and she continues to garner institutional attention – a tribute to her longstanding status as an artist central to the Northwest’s cultural life. Among the awards and recognitions Pitt has received:
- 1990 Oregon Governor’s Award for the Arts;
- Oregon Chiles Foundation Award from the High Desert Museum, Bend, OR;
- Leadership Award from the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation, Portland, OR;
- Honored Citizen by the Architecture Foundation of Oregon;
- History Maker by the Oregon Historical Society; and an
- Honorary Doctorate from the University of Portland in 2022.
Lillian Pitt’s life and works are featured in The Story of Lillian Pitt. An exhibition of her work will be on display at the Museum of Warm Springs, opening May 21, 2026. More information on the 1905 Legacy Award is available on our site.
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Photo Credit: Sam Gehrke
About The Ford Family Foundation Visual Arts Program
The Visual Arts Program honors the late Hallie Ford, co-founder of The Ford Family Foundation, who left a legacy based on an interest in, and a lifelong support of, the visual arts. The Hallie Ford Fellowships are the flagship element of the Visual Arts Program. In addition, the program offers grants to visual artists for unanticipated career opportunities; supports artists-in-residence programs; brings curators and critics from outside the region to Oregon for studio visits and community dialogue; supports exhibitions, catalogues and other forms of documentation; and awards grants for small capital projects.
About The Ford Family Foundation
The Ford Family Foundation believes in the power of rural communities. It is a private, nonprofit foundation proudly headquartered in Roseburg, Oregon, serving rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. Its investments through grants, scholarships and community building create the conditions so that children have the family, educational and community supports they need to succeed in life. www.tfff.org
General media inquiries
Sarah Pytalski, Learning Officer – Policy and Communications
(541) 492-2396, spytalski@tfff.org
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