Artwork copyright Liza vonRosenstiel. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Pink Horse/Elephant, 1994

Liza vonRosenstiel
American (born 1954)

Location: Ridgetop Middle School, Silverdale

About the Artwork

Pink Horse/Elephant by Liza vonRosenstiel is part of a series of sculptural icons of animals, made of found objects and painted elements. This series began while vonRosenstiel taught and lived at Deep Springs College, a college and working ranch located in the remote high desert of Eastern California. She overcame her fear of horses by walking into the corral and standing still, heart racing, while the horses surrounded her, nudging her with their noses. After doing this again and again, she learned to love horses. She also collected old furniture pieces, metal, and other "junk" around the ranch that she eventually used to create this series of artworks.

This is a portrait of one of the horses at Deep Springs College, with two imaginary little elephant figures, but also of the place itself. VonRosenstiel notes that "sometimes in the early morning, when the sky was dawn-pink, it was easy to see anything in that valley, even two elephants, one standing on the back of the other."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Central Kitsap School District.

About the Artist

Longtime Washington artist and teacher Liza vonRosenstiel draws imagery and inspiration from animals and the natural world. Her paintings inspire the viewer to imagine their own stories. Her art is also inspired by the news, Indian miniatures, and early Italian painting.
VonRosenstiel earned a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 1978. She lived on Whidbey Island, Western Washington for over twenty years, and is currently based in Arizona.