Artwork copyright Ilse Kilian-Tan. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2016.

Artwork copyright Ilse Kilian-Tan. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1976.

Artwork copyright Ilse Kilian-Tan. Original 1977 installation. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, by Jim Ball (black and white photo).

Artwork copyright Ilse Kilian-Tan. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, by Jim Ball (black and white photo, detail).

Red Planet Number 1, 1976

Ilse Kilian-Tan
(German, born 1928)

Location: Office of the Governor, Olympia

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Red Planet Number 1 is an abstract tapestry created by artist Ilse Kilian-Tan. The design features a textured circle of red strands of wool, protruding from a landscape-like background. The bottom half of the piece consists of long, hanging strands of wool, which are dyed various shades of red.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Medical Lake School District.

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.