One of the Pacific Northwest's most anticipated cultural events of 2026 opened its doors Thursday evening on the Warm Springs Reservation. "Lillian Pitt: Art, Memory, Home" — a major survey exhibition celebrating the art of Lillian Pitt (Warm Springs, Wasco, Yakama) — debuted at The Museum at Warm Springs with an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on May 21.
The exhibition will remain on view through Saturday, October 10, 2026, giving residents throughout Jefferson County and beyond months to experience one of the most significant showings of Indigenous Pacific Northwest art in years.
About the Exhibition
"Art, Memory, Home" features both Pitt's own work and pieces from her personal collection, alongside works from her closest friends held in other art institutions. It is curated by Angela Anne Smith (Warm Springs, Yakama, Nez Perce, Diné), with contributing curator Rebecca Dobkins — curator of Native American art at The Hallie Ford Museum of Art and professor emeritus of anthropology at Willamette University.
Lillian Pitt is among the most celebrated Native American artists in the Pacific Northwest, known for her masks, vessels, and figurative works that draw on the traditions and stories of Plateau cultures while embracing contemporary forms. She was recently honored with The Ford Family Foundation's inaugural 1905 Legacy Award in the Visual Arts — a recognition of lasting contribution to Oregon's cultural life.
Thursday's Opening Reception
The opening reception, sponsored by The Ford Family Foundation, drew community members, artists, and museum supporters to The Museum at 2189 U.S. Highway 26 in Warm Springs. Reception speakers included Ford Family Foundation President and CEO Kara Inae Carlisle and Indigenous scholar and artist Phillip Cash Cash (niimíipuu, weyíiletpuu).
Plan Your Visit
The Museum at Warm Springs is located at 2189 US-26, Warm Springs, Oregon, just off the highway in the heart of the reservation. It is open to the public, and an exhibition catalog is available for purchase at $30 (Museum Members receive an additional 10% discount).
For residents of Madras, Culver, Metolius, and throughout Jefferson County, the Museum is roughly 20 minutes north on Highway 26. The exhibition runs through early October, making it accessible across the summer and into fall.