Corrado Parducci is the focus of this illustrated lecture presented by author, photographer, and architectural historian Dale A. Carlson, based on his 2020 book, Corrado Parducci: A Field Guide to Detroit’s Architectural Sculptor. Carlson previously presented at Ford House in September 2025 as a Bicknell presenter with a program exploring stained glass in the Grosse Pointe community.

Raised along the northeastern shores of Lake Michigan, Carlson developed an early fascination with Detroit and its architecture. During the 1990s, he studied art, journalism, and graphic design at several Michigan colleges, including Michigan State University, as his academic and professional path brought him steadily closer to the city.

This program is co-sponsored by Ford House and the Grosse Pointe Historical Society as part of National Preservation Month.

Born in Italy, Corrado Parducci immigrated to the United States in 1904 and arrived in Detroit in 1924 for what was intended to be a short-term assignment with architect Albert Kahn. He ultimately settled in Michigan and spent the remainder of his career working from Detroit.

In 1926, Parducci created a scale model of Albert Kahn’s design for Edsel and Eleanor Ford’s home at Gaukler Point, helping the family visualize what would become Ford House. Over the course of his career, his architectural sculpture adorned approximately 600 buildings across Michigan. He is best known for pioneering the Greco Deco style, a defining element of Detroit’s architectural landscape.