While anticipation builds for the opening of the George Lucas Museum in Los Angeles, there’s a hidden treasure in Southern California that offers a deep dive into the state’s rich history through captivating art, animation, and more.
Nestled in Orange at Chapman University, the Hilbert Museum at 167 N. Atchison Street invites art lovers to explore an impressive collection of over 5,000 items, including oils, illustrations, watercolors, drawings, and cinematic production art.
Since its debut in 2016, the museum’s eye-catching two-story structure has housed 26 galleries that spotlight rotating exhibits from the ever-expanding Hilbert collection, made possible by the generous contributions of its founders, Mark and Janet Hilbert.
Visitors embark on a journey through California’s past, from the late 1800s to the present, with breathtaking artwork that captures the state’s distinctive coastal vistas, agricultural scenes, and diverse landscapes, not to mention Hollywood’s storied studio artists and animators.
Spanning over 22,000 square feet, the museum boasts one of the most extensive private collections of Disney art, complemented by pieces from Norman Rockwell and other iconic 20th-century illustrators. This is all according to their official website.
Among the current exhibitions is work by Jørgen Klubien, a Danish animator who made significant contributions to both Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, leaving a lasting mark on the animation industry.
After moving to the US in the 1980’s, Klubien’s work helped shape some of the greatest Disney and Pixar movies ever made.
The list includes such movies as “The Little Mermaid,” “The Lion King,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Toy Story 2,” “Monsters “Inc.” he’s even credited as a co-creator and screenwriter for the massive hit “Cars,” per the website.
There’s also rotating collections featuring artists like Rockwell, Millard Sheets, Mary Blair, Rex Brandt, Ralph Allen Massey, and so much more.
In 2024, the museum reopened to the public with the space expanding from 7,500 to its current 22,000 sq foot building after undergoing a three-year long project.
And all this wonderful art is free to the public. Visitors are encouraged to use their online reservation page before going to the museum.
It is opened to the public Wednesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. with free parking. They are closed on Monday and Tuesday.
In the fall, movie history lovers can check out the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art which opens its Exposition Park attraction on Sept. 22.
