Janet Hilbert had a passion for the landscape art that captured California’s diverse scenery – but it was the people in the artwork she was drawn to the most.
Hilbert, who died on Dec. 7 at age 83 at her home in Newport Beach, is being remembered for her contribution to the art community, as a thoughtful philanthropist who alongside her husband, Mark, dedicated her life to educating people about California scenic art.
Janet and Mark Hilbert co-founded the Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University a decade ago. Earlier this year the museum celebrated a massive expansion, tripling its floor space to now house 26 galleries and more than 5,000 art pieces, many from the couple’s personal collection.
“I think her legacy is going to live on as long as this museum lives, which I think will be a very long time,” said Mary Platt, director of the Hilbert Museum located in Old Towne Orange. “We’re going to miss her physical presence, but her spirit will linger on in these galleries forever.”
The museum’s collection mostly draws from the California Scene Painting movement from the 1920s through 1970s. The Hilbert Collection includes oils, watercolors and sketches of scenes found throughout the Golden State – rural and urban scenes, coastal views, farms, ranches, freeways and landscapes.
The art form is based on scenes of everyday life: people working in the cities or on ranches, enjoying sailboats or the beach.
“Things we do as Californians,” Platt explained.
Chapman University President Daniele C. Struppa said Hilbert, who many called Jan, leaves behind a “profound legacy that has deeply touched our university and the broader community.”
“Jan was a remarkable individual whose passion for the arts and education left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing her,” he said in a statement. “Beyond her professional achievements, Jan was known for her effervescent aura which could be felt whenever she entered a room ……
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