Celebrating A Michigan artist who found inspiration abroad and left a lasting mark at home
A Michigan farm boy who became an accomplished painter in Paris returns home through art this fall. The University of Olivet’s Kresge Foundation Art Gallery will host “Charles Franklin Chamberlain: Drawn to France,” a traveling exhibition curated by Edward Bentley. The show opens in Olivet on October 23 and runs through November 27, 2025. Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The public is also invited to a free gallery reception on Oct. 24 from 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Born in Webster Township in 1871, Charles Franklin Chamberlain discovered his passion for drawing and painting at an early age. With encouragement from his mother, he pursued formal training at the Detroit Academy and the Art Students League of New York before traveling to France in 1894. There, he studied at the Académie Julian, the Aman-Jean School, and the École des Beaux-Arts under some of the most respected artists of the day.
Chamberlain’s career focused on drawing and painting, with works ranging from atmospheric landscapes to intimate portraits. His exhibitions at the Detroit Institute of Arts and in France earned him recognition for his luminous style, while his membership in the Society of Western Artists from 1907 to 1915 showcased notable pieces such as “The Storm Cloud,” “The Mill Pond,” and “The Corn Field.”
Despite his time abroad, Chamberlain remained firmly rooted in Michigan. He returned home to raise a family, later teaching architectural drawing at the University of Michigan. His final known painting, an oil of the Pinckney Town Hall, was completed in 1947, the year of his passing.
“Drawn to France gives visitors a chance to see how a Michigan-born artist was shaped by the European art world, yet never lost his connection to home,” said Gary Wertiheimer, professor of art at Olivet. “It’s a unique opportunity to experience Chamberlain’s paintings in a way that tells both his personal and artistic story.”
About the Kresge Foundation Art Gallery
The Kresge Foundation Art Gallery, located inside the Riethmiller Blackman Art Building on The University of Olivet’s campus, features rotating exhibitions. The gallery offers students, faculty, and the wider community opportunities to experience the transformative power of the visual arts.
For more information, email Gary Wertheimer, professor of art, or call 269-749-7627.