Hilbert Museum of California Art, Orange, CA June 14-September 13
The California Art Club, an institution founded in 1909 by artists who pioneered the California Impressionism movement, will host its 115th annual Gold Medal Exhibition at the Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University. This year’s exhibition, which opens on June 14, coincides with both California’s 175th year of statehood and the United States’ 250th anniversary—two milestones that are honored by many of the show’s selected works which highlight the striking scenery and rich history of the Golden State and the nation.
Michael Obermeyer, president of California Art Club, show juror and Gold Medal artist, hopes visitors walk away from this exhibition with a deepened appreciation for classical art forms and a renewed interest in realism and technical excellence. His goal for the show is to “ensure that traditional fine art is not only preserved, but reinvigorated for the contemporary, fast-paced world we live in.” This is why, during the jurying process, there was a priority to uphold the club’s mission of championing classical techniques in painting and sculpting while still embracing contemporary interpretations.
“The Gold Medal show sets a high standard,” says artist Timothy Horn. “When a painting of mine is accepted, it makes the years of hard work feel worthwhile.” His painting MILLER’S MARKET was inspired by the time he found himself stranded in San Ardo, California, a small town where the tires on his trailer blew out when he was driving home after picking up an Airstream he had purchased. “I had dinner in the only restaurant in town, then spent the night in my trailer parked on the side of a quiet, empty road,” he recounts. “By noon the next day, I had a set of new tires, and I was ready to head home. Before leaving town, I stopped at the grocery store to grab some lunch and took a few photos of my trailer in front of the store, one of which served as the reference for this painting.” The piece, with its subdued cool blue tones, feels still and peaceful, like a moment frozen in time.
Laurie Kersey’s AFTERNOON SUN evokes a similar feeling of tranquility, depicting two horses enjoying time in the sun. “These two corral-mates were hanging out together on a sunny afternoon, catching some rays,” she recalls. Kersey’s process began with manipulating her reference images on her iPad until she found a composition she liked. Next she completed a series of small thumbnail studies to perfect her color scheme before blocking in the piece and painting the finish wet-in-wet, one area at a time. “I enveloped the scene in warm tones to reinforce the sunny, warm, comfortable feeling,” she explains.
A variety of educational programming will be offered over the course of the three-month exhibition. Highlights include an opening day lecture on California art history, Saturday meet and greets, demonstrations by Gold Medal artists and a paint- or sculpt-out on closing day, in addition to children’s activities inspired by the works on view. The exhibition will be open until September 13. —Sara Beck
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This story appeared in the June/July 2026 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Subscribe today to read every issue in its entirety.
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