Kathi Hilton 1939 - Kathi Hilton Desert Magazine 1978
Kathi featured in
Desert Magazine
Nov., 1978
Kathi is the daughter of famed desert artist, John W. Hilton. In her home growing up, she knew Jimmy Swinnerton as a regular visiting uncle along with a notable revolving cast familiar to all who know and love California's desert painters. More
Kathi Hilton Photo 2009
Kathi, today
living in Utah
Kathi Hilton and John W Hilton sharing a photo at their first joint exhibition
Kathi and John in their first joint exhibition
Our next Gallery Exhibit, beginning April 17 features John W. Hilton and Kathi Hilton
"Generations"
Kathi Hilton Awakening Spring Midsized thumbnail
Awakening Spring
20 x 24
Kathi Hilton Golden Promas Midsized Thumbnail
"Golden Promise"
15 x 30
Kathi Hilton Morning Splendor Midsized Thumbnail
Morning Splendor
18 x 24
Kathi Hilton Valley Splendor Midsized Thumbnail
Valley Splendor
12 x 16
  Kathi Hilton Smoke Tree Midsized Thumbnail
Smoke Tree
18 x 14
Kathi Hilton Before the Storm Midsized Thumbnail
Before the Storm
12 x 16 SOLD
Kathi Hilton Springs Promise Midsized Thumbnail
Spring's Promise
18 x 24 - SOLD
Kathi Hilton Spring Midsized Thumbnail
Spring
8 x 10 - SOLD
Kathi Hilton Eternal Silence Midsized Thumbnail
"Eternal Silence"
10 x 20 - SOLD
Hilton Kathi Radiance Mid .jpg
"Radiance" -12 x 16
Sold
Kathi Hilton Spring Dance Midsized Thumbnail
"Spring Dance"
- 8 x 10 SOLD

As a young girl, she spent time in the Northern Mexico town of Alamos as her father explored the plants, animals, and customs of Sonora. Her father wrote about her in his book, Sonora Sketchbook. She shares her father's love of the desert, and her paintings tell the tale that she learned to paint at her father's easel.

As an artist, she had several successful exhibitions, and has been featured Desert Magazine and Southwest Art Magazine, and was invited to participate in the Frank Tenney Johnson Memorial Show at the Gene Autry Hotel in Palm Springs.

Kathi uses a palette knife, and a technique crafted by her father of mixing fossil wax with oil paints to achieve a texture perspective, giving the finished painting realistic impressions of depth. Her paintings show an exceptional luminosity and often receive adoring comments from gallery visitors.

Behind the desk at the visitors center in Death Valley National Park hang a pair of large paintings by John and Kathi Hilton. More below ...

Hilton Kathie Kathie Death Valley .jpg


Hilton Kathie John W Death Valley .jpg

Paintings by Kathi Hilton (left) and John W. Hilton (right), Death Valley National Park Visitor's Center

Kathy has given us two fantastic tales of her childhood days growing up in the home of John W. Hilton.

One of John Hilton's friends was aviator and industrialist, Howard Hughes. Once, Hughes landed his airplane on the highway in front of John's humble gem shop and art studio in Coachella, CA. He brought dinner with him, fresh Maine lobster for little Kathi's birthday. Today, lobster remain's Kathi's favorite dish.

Another of John's friends and painting partners was actor James Cagney. Cagney liked to get out of Hollywood and, visit John at his Twentynine Palms ranch and paint. One day as both men were painting, little Kathi joined in. She was frustrated she couldn't paint as well as her father. At one point, Cagney turned to young Kathi and said, "Kathi, don't worry. You don't have to paint like your father, just paint what's in your heart." Of that day, Kathi now says, "That's the day I became an artist."

Sources: Conversations with Kathi Hilton, Sonora Sketchbook by John Hilton, 1947; Death Valley Visitor's Center, Furnace Creek, CA., Desert Magazine November 1979 . Back to top of page