Sodaro South Building

California’s Golden Coast: Selections from the Hilbert Collection

March 22, 2025 – August 9, 2025

Curated by Mary Platt

For generations, artists have been captivated by the breathtaking beauty and dynamic energy of California’s coastline. From the sunlit beaches of Southern California to the rugged shores of the north, painters have used both watercolor and oil to capture the diverse moods and landscapes of the Pacific.

The artists featured in this exhibition of more than 40 paintings —spanning from the 1930s to today—offer a compelling visual chronicle of life along the coast, portraying lively beach scenes, bustling harbors, picturesque coastal cities and towns, and the wild, untamed beauty of the shoreline. Their works reflect not only the physical grandeur of the Golden State’s coast but also the ever-changing ways people interact with it.

These works celebrate California’s coastline as a place of beauty, recreation and inspiration. Today, as the coast faces environmental challenges, these paintings chosen from The Hilbert Collection serve as both a tribute and a reminder of the need to preserve this extraordinary landscape for future generations.