Jack and Alice McLean — Bronze and
Copper Artists
Jack and Alice McLean are an
American husband-and-wife artistic duo known for their bronze and copper
sculptures, wall tiles, and mixed-media works. Their practice blends metalwork,
patina chemistry, and found-object integration, creating pieces that feel
both handcrafted and historically layered. Jack McLean, a sculptor with over 40
years of experience, works with welded, forged, machined, and oxidized
bronze and copper. He describes his process as a “40-year dialogue with
materials,” where he learns when to impose his will and when to listen to the
material’s response. His work often involves hot-process patinas created
by brushing or spaying strong oxidizers like cupric acid, ferric nitrate, and
tannic oxide, then manipulating them
Common subjects include dories,
boats, buildings, and abstract forms.
Notable Works
Jack McLean passed away in 2017,
but Alice continues to develop and exhibit their collaborative body of work,
preserving their shared artistic vision.