Gilbert Clark was born in San Francisco, a fifth generation Californian. He served in the army at the end of the Second World War. He then received his undergraduate degree in education from Chapman College, his Master's degree in School Administration from San Diego State University. He worked in the nursery business, taught gifted and talented elementary students in San Diego, and then received his doctorate in Art Education from Stanford University. Gilbert Clark taught at Ohio State University and was a Professor of Art Education and Gifted/Talented Education at Indiana University. In his research, he investigated art curriculum theory and development, child development in art, art test development, and assessment of learning in art and gifted education. He developed several national curriculum programs and is author of numerous articles, monographs, and books about art and gifted/talented education, many of which won national and international research awards. He was director of ERIC national clearinghouse for art education research and has received the highest awards in his field, including a national Art Education Distinguished Fellow and National Art Educator of the Year. He is author of Clark’s Drawing Abilities Test that currently is used in the US and abroad and for a decade he co-directed the IU Artistically Talented Program for gifted students from underserved, rural, ethnically diverse, and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. He was a passionate and dedicated educator with a perpetual twinkle in his eye and a gift for patient listening. Gilbert Clark loved reading nonfiction books and attending performing arts and film events around Bloomington. He was an avid Master Gardner gardener and created a beautiful natural environment around his Bloomington home. He is survived by his wife Enid Zimmerman, his daughter Laura Zimmerman and her partner Richard Denning (Bloomington) and his grandson Zachary Harrison (Bloomington), his son Eric Zimmerman and his partner Nathalie Pozzi (New York City), and his son Randall Clark (San Francisco, California).
A service will be held Wednesday evening at Gilbert Clark's home. He will be buried at Valhalla Memory Gardens.