This March, the Old Art Building (OAB) in Leland will kick off the season by opening its doors to the vibrant and multifaceted work of Charles “Chuck” Passarelli, an artist whose career has spanned the golden age of American advertising and decades of fine art mastery.
The exhibit, “A Legacy of Artistic Exploration,” will showcase Passarelli’s range across watercolor, oil, pastel, acrylic, mixed media, and wood carving. Passarelli has been a “longtime supporter and artist in the Old Art Building community and in the greater Leelanau art community too,” explained OAB communications director, Ryan Hussey. After serving in the Korean War, Passarelli entered Detroit’s bustling commercial art world during the height of America’s advertising boom - think “Mad Men”.
His illustrations for major national brands, including Ford, helped define the era, appearing in campaigns that reached millions. When digital design began to eclipse hand painted work, Passarelli made a deliberate choice to stick with his brushes. That decision marked the start of his transition from commercial illustrator to an independent fine artist. Though he has spent significant time teaching and exhibiting in Florida, Passarelli lives in Leelanau County for part of the year and remains an active presence at the Old Art Building.
