If you can’t wait until the new George Lucas Museum opens in Los Angeles, there’s a little-known gem in Southern California where you can explore the state’s history through unique works of art, animation, and more.
The Hilbert Museum is located in Orange at 167 N. Atchison Street, at Chapman University, and offers visitors the chance to see more than 5,000 oils, illustrations, watercolors, drawings, and movie production art.
The striking two-story building opened in 2016 and features 26 galleries showcasing rotating collections from the growing Hilbert collection,” thanks to the funding from co-founders Mark and Janet Hilbert, the website read.
Visitors can experience the Golden State history from the late 1800s all the way to today, including the stunning paintings of the state showcasing our unique coastal views, farms, ranches, and landscapes to Hollywood studio artists and animators.
Its vast collection stretches across more than 22,000 square feet of gallery space, showcasing “one of the largest private collections of Disney art,” along with works by Norman Rockwell and other 20th Century illustrators, according to the website.
Current exhibitions include Disney-Pixar animator Jørgen Klubien from Denmark, who was part of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios during a huge part of its history.
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.
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