b. 1931 d. 2024
Site Affiliation: Ilan-Lael Foundation
James T. Hubbell was an artist and craftsman, a passionate naturalist, and collaborative mentor. He was born in Mineola, New York, the son of Julia Jones and James Hubbell Sr. and brother to Harry (Bert) and sister Roberleigh. He attended 13 schools throughout childhood, including a military academy and finishing school at Choate Rosemary Hall. He studied at Whitney Art School in New York and later at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield, Michigan, where he majored in sculpture. His wide-ranging creative legacy is famously expressed in his hand-built family home, Ilan-Lael, on an oak and boulder covered hilltop in Santa Ysabel, California. Notable works include his Pacific Rim Park project, Sea Ranch Chapel in Sonoma County, CA, Colegio La Esperanza in Tijuana, MX, public art pieces on the grounds of Rancho La Puerta Fitness Resort and Spa in Tecate, Baja California, MX.
Primary Medium: Sculpture, Design, Painting, Architecture, Mosaics, Stained Glass, Poetry
Primary Stylistic Term: Arts and Craft Movement, Mid-Century Modern, Post Modern
HAHS Affiliations: James Hubbell attended Cranbrook Academy of Art, where fellow HAHS artist Eero Saarinen taught.
Fun Fact: James Hubbell met Quentin Keynes, the grandson of Charles Darwin, during a chance encounter while visiting his sister in New York in 1950, after their brief meeting Quentin invited James to travel in Africa for 9 months on an expedition.
Recommended Publications: In Harmony with Nature: The Architectural Work of James Hubbell (Ilan-Lael Foundation, 2022); Seeking Beauty: Jim’s Gift by Angie Brenner by Sarah Jamieson (2021); From the Earth Up: The Art and Vision of James Hubbell by Otto B. Rigan (1979)