Primarily acclaimed as a maker of ceramic masks in the ancient methods of Raku, Lillian Pitt is known throughout the art world. Her masks are not intended to convey a hidden meaning; rather they are made with the simple desire to make people feel better about their circumstances and the world around them, and with luck this will lead to a domino effect where one person feels good and passes it on to the next." By Liz Woody

Lillian Pitt talks about her work: "I am fascinated by clay--the feel of it the touch of it, the magic of what happens to it in a molecular way, how water leaves it and how it changes its structure. The raku pieces seem to turn out exquisite without my help. As they to through the other processes of the Raku firing they divorce themselves from me and become their own spirit. And they get just so beautiful. I just love them.

"I feel that making these masks is a sacred act, although I am not a spiritual type of person, but when I am really working with it, it is kind of sacred to me because I'm in a meditative state and I am very calm and very peaceful with it and so I don't know that there is a... anything written about it. It is just how I feel. There is just this intimacy and closeness with it and I feel like it is a blessing to do this."

The selection of Lillian's masks above is on display at Northwest by Northwest Gallery but is representative of masks that can be ordered through the various galleries listed at the bottom of this page. Since each mask is unique, the pieces available at the moment may vary.

Masks in Raku and Anagama

Left: Anagama stick Indian with feathers, 8"x6"x12" at Bonnie Kahn's
Right: Mother Moon in Raku and peacock feathers, 28"x30"x5", Northwest by Northwest

Left: Small anagama spirit bird with duck feathers, unglazed, 8"x8"x4", Bonnie Kahn's.
Right: Anagama spirit bird, sold, but similar masks are available.

            Left: Yakima Stick Indian, anagama, 10"x7"x7", Northwest by Northwest
            Right: Yakima Stick Indian #2, anagama, 10"x7"x7", Northwest by Northwest


The legendary She Who Watches, 14"x10"x3, anagama

        Left: She Who Watches, Bronze with optional stand, 14"x5"x3"
        Right: Simnasi Stick Indian, 8"x6"x3" Porcelain
        Both are available at Bonnie Kahn's and Northwest by Northwest.


        Left: Turquoise Lady, Raku, 14"x8"x3", Bonnie Kahn's
        Right: Coyote Spirit Mask, Australian Porcelain, 14"x12", Bonnie Kahn's


Left: Wasco Stick Indian, mixed metal, limited to 20, 14"x8"x3", Bonnie Kahn's
Right: Bronze Mask, Mother Moon, 10"x8"x3", Bonnie Kahn's



            Left: Ancient Spirit, Bronze, limited to 20, 10"x8"x3", Bonnie Kahn's
            Right: She Who Watches, Bronze 10"x8"x3", Bonnie Kahn's

Miniature Bronze Masks

             Left: Coyote, Limited Edition of 150, 7"x3 1/2"x2"
             Right: She Who Watches, Limited Edition of 500, 6"x5"x2"
        Both are available at Bonnie Kahn's and Northwest by Northwest.

TO SEE LILLIAN'S WORK IN PERSON: If you'd like to be notified of Lillian's gallery openings, museum shows, and other exhibits, click here and include your mailing address.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Lillian Pitt can be reached by email and through the galleries that feature her work, including:

The Bonnie Kahn Gallery, Portland, OR
Sunbird Art Gallery, Bend, OR
Jeffrey Moose Gallery, Seattle, WA
Images of the North, San Francisco, CA
Northwest by Northwest, Cannon Beach, OR
Gary Farmer Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

Web design by Donna Cunningham of Word of Mouth Web Design, using elements from Lillian Pitt's art.
Photos by Dennis Maxwell.