Collectors gather at the 114th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition. Photo by Jamie Pham.

“At the Hilbert Museum, all of this aligns naturally with our mission to present California’s rich legacy of representational art, while also showing how that tradition continues to evolve in the present day,” says Mary Platt, director of the Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University. “Having hosted the Annual Gold Medal Exhibition three times previously, we are particularly pleased to welcome it back to our museum and to Orange County. Our expanded galleries allow us to use our entire Sodaro South Wing to present the exhibition, while also placing it in dialogue with works from our permanent collection in the North Wing.”

Michael Obermeyer, American Tapestry, oil on linen, 20 x 24 in.

Attendees can expect a broad and engaging range of representational work, including landscapes, figurative subjects, portraits, still life and narrative scenes. “While stylistic approaches vary—from more classical to more contemporary interpretations—all of the work is grounded in direct observation and strong technical skill,” says Platt. “The exhibition includes paintings in oil, watercolor and pastel, along with sculpture in traditional materials such as bronze and marble. This year’s exhibition features a large roster of artists from across California and beyond—169 exhibiting artists—and presents 203 juried works, creating a rich and varied survey of contemporary-traditional art.”

Terry Miura, Del Rio, oil on linen, 42 x 42 in.

Returning exhibition artist Michael Obermeyer, known for his plein air paintings of landscapes, seascapes and cityscapes, shares that, with the nation’s landmark anniversary in mind, he wanted to create a painting that focused on the United States immigrant community—“our field workers and how we need to embrace the diversity and cultures that have sustained us throughout our history,” says Obermeyer. “We are still a land of immigrants, and our strength comes from love, mercy and generosity toward one another. My painting American Tapestry is a studio painting combining references from several smaller plein air studies I had painted. The foreground fields and workers are actually in a different location than the background hills, but each with the same light source.”

Brian Blood, Moss Landing, oil on canvas, 24 x 30 in.

The exhibition is accompanied by special events and programming designed to connect visitors directly with the artists and their work. Platt says, “These typically include a Collectors’ Preview and an Artists’ Reception, where attendees can meet exhibiting artists and view the work in a more intimate, celebratory setting. In addition, the California Art Club often offers a rich schedule of artist demonstrations and educational programming that provides insight into materials, techniques and the creative process behind the work. The exhibition also includes a robust awards program, with honors given across multiple categories.”