Artwork copyright Ilse Kilian-Tan. Photo courtesy of the artist.

The Last Day, 1997

Ilse Kilian-Tan
(German, born 1928)

Location: Washington State University - Vancouver, Vancouver

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Teaching languages and art forced artist Ilse Kilian-Tan to neglect her passion for weaving for a number of years. However, as soon as she took up the craft again Kilian-Tan came back stronger than ever before, creating larger and more colorful pieces. The Last Day is one of these works, conveying a sense of beauty and strength that can be found even in the darkest of times.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Washington State University.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Spokane, Eastern Washington-based textile artist Ilse Kilian-Tan weaves elaborate abstracted wall hangings inspired by nature. She is also a painter and writer.
Kilian-Tan was born and grew up in East Germany. She moved to the United States in the 1960s and received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts in literature and foreign languages. She also received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Eastern Washington University in Cheney, where she taught foreign languages for many years.