During the early years, a number of locations around the city provided meeting space, but in October 1928, the current “clubhouse” opened its doors. The building’s architect, club member Lancelot Sukert (1888-1966) was chosen by the club’s member architects. The design, building construction, and architectural and decorative elements were all executed by the membership. Its idiosyncratic design, including the private walled garden, provides a unique setting for the myriad artistic and social events for which the Scarab Club is famous.

Read More

The original club was exclusively for men and was limited to 25 members. The membership included artists, advertising illustrators, car designers, and architects, among others. Women were admitted to membership after 1962. From that early small group, today the membership has swelled to more than 500, attracting artists and art enthusiasts from all over the metro area, Canada, and neighboring states. Distinguished guests and important artists are invited to sign the “guest book,” the sides of the ceiling beams of the second floor Lounge. Hundreds of signatures, including those of Diego Rivera, Leroy Foster, Margaret Bourke-White, and the most recent (2022), Cledie Taylor, can be seen by visitors and chronicle the cultural life of the city. The Scarab Club, one of the oldest arts organizations in Detroit, has welcomed artists and art lovers without interruption for 115 years.