C. Fredric Hobbs, American Artist and local Bay Area art icon passed away on the morning of April 25, 2018 in Monterey County, at the age of 85.

Family History

Fredric Hobbs (full name Carl Fredric Hobbs) was born in Philadelphia on December 30, 1931 to Mother, Gertrude Darken Madison and Father Robert F. Hobbs. He attended Menlo School in Menlo Park California and in 1953 earned a B.A. in History from Cornell University. After two years service as an Air Force Officer from 1953 - 1955, Mr. Hobbs attended the Academia de San Fernando de Bellas Artes in Madrid, Spain. Throughout his life, his studios were located in San Francisco and Carmel, California. He lived in Carmel and Monterey County for the last 15 years.

A Creative Force of Nature

Fredric Hobbs was an American artist and filmmaker. He pioneered the art form, ART- ECO, published three books, wrote and directed four films and produced a massive body of paintings and sculptures over his lifetime. His work has been showcased at museums and galleries internationally.

Since the 1950s, Mr. Hobbs artwork has concerned spiritual and environmental consciousness. In 1963, he created a radical new automobile artform called "Parade Sculpture". This concept had its origin in ancient religious processions and self-propelled tableaux. During the 60’s, he created three parade pieces ("Sun Chariot", "Three Thieves", "Trojan Horse"). He used these towering mobile sculptures to introduce the idea of art outside of the museum environment. He wanted to confront the mass audience with artforms displayed under the circumstances of everyday life. His driveable sculpture was exhibited in New York, California and as part of the famous national traveling show entitled "The Highway".

One person exhibitions of pioneering artworks have been held at museums and galleries including the Museum of Science and Industry in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, Sierra Nevada Museum of Art and other venues in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. His works are represented in permanent collections such as the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, among others. Fredric Hobbs wrote and directed four films which are held by the Pacific Film Archive at the UC Berkeley Art Museum.

Mr. Hobbs is survived by his daughters Leslie Hobbs Bridges and Alison Hobbs Kessler, his grandchildren, Madison Alexandra Hobbs and Sean Taylor Bridges, his beloved adopted son-in-laws, Steven L. Bridges and Jonathan P. Kessler and Charlyne Hermes Brown, his long time companion of 27 years. He leaves behind a massive body of work that will contribute to the evolution of art in all its forms .

There will be a small private family memorial service in Del Mar, California and a burial in Monterey County.

“My work is my life and my life is my work.” C. Fredric Hobbs

Mr. Hobbs believed that every human is born an artist with endless creative potential. His life was his work and his work was his life. Art was a platform to share his insights and views. All of his creative output had a reason for being and made a statement about his perspectives. He believed, like many artists, that the art is to be interpreted by each individual.