She served as curator of the Ian Woodner Family Collection followed by a position at the Curt Marcus Gallery as an art dealer.
[6] From 1990 through 1999, Philbin served as director of The Drawing Center in New York, where she curated exhibitions of works on paper in addition to managing the institution's overall programming and administration.
[7] Along with these developments in the exhibition program, Philbin turned the space into a gathering center for community groups, implementing a series of monthly readings and other public events.
[14] In addition to her role at the Hammer, Philbin has also served on the selection committee that chose the artist exhibiting at the American pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
By commissioning local artists to create work specifically for the exhibition, the Hammer's signature biennial showcases the city's diversity.
The renovation, a continuation of previous building projects by architect Michael Maltzan, also included a revamped entrance at Wilshire and Westwood boulevards designed to maximize the Hammer's visual presence.
[20] Philbin is married to her longtime partner, Cynthia Wornham, a public relations and communications executive who served as senior vice president at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.