Dianna Kihs is a Native American Indian artist, born and raised in Kerby, Oregon. She is a proud member of the Karuk tribe, whose ancestral lands span approximately seventy miles along the upper part of the Klamath River in northern California. Dianna's journey in the arts began at the age of ten, when her grandmother taught her how to sew and quilt. By high school, she was making many of her own clothes, and she and her grandmother even collaborated on creating cheerleader outfits. It was quilting, however, that sparked her deep interest in art and design. She was captivated by how simple shapes—squares, triangles, and diamonds—could be pieced together into vibrant, meaningful quilts that transformed beds into visual works of art. Today, she draws inspiration from the natural world, using the colors and shapes she sees in nature to guide her quilting.
Later in life, Dianna visited her native reservation, where she was introduced to the traditional art of basket making. Under the guidance of tribal elders, she spent a year learning how and when to gather materials, including willow sticks in the spring, spruce roots in the fall, and woodwardia fern from mountain tops. Over the course of two years, she practiced harvesting and weaving. Her first basket was a small medicine pouch necklace filled with celery root. As tradition required, she gave it away, allowing it to begin someone else's healing journey, and marking the start of her own path as a creator.
Like many artists, Dianna’s practice paused for a time due to the demands of family and work. As retirement approached, she discovered a basket weaving class at her local Senior Center. Though the techniques differed from her traditional methods—focusing on pine needle basketry instead of native practices—she embraced the new approach. She found it more accessible and just as rewarding. When the original instructor left, Dianna took the lead in continuing the class. Over the past ten years, she has grown into her role as a teacher and mentor. With the support of the internet and a growing community of fellow basket weavers, her journey continues to evolve. Her students are eager learners, each creating their own beautiful works. Through her craft, Dianna gives from the heart, and every piece she makes with her hands carries the spirit of her heritage and love. A variety of Dianna's pineneedle baskets and sculptures incorporate mixed media such as glass beads, ceramic pieces, gourds, shells, colored thread, and gemstones. They pieces along with her pineneedle jewelry are on display year-round at the Guild Gallery & Art Center.