Ian McLean
Artist member since 2019
ProBright's Grove, Ontario
In his oil paintings, Ian presents otherworldly depictions of imagined residential environments – both interior and exterior. Implied narratives in the settings are intended to suggest notions of control, order, and disruption in Utopian pursuits.
Ian has been the recipient of multiple Ontario Arts Council Visual Artist grants and was recently a contestant on the inaugural season of the CBC reality television series “Landscape Artist of the Year: Canada”. Based in southern Ontario, he studied at the University of Guelph and has exhibited extensively in Toronto and throughout Ontario. A former member of Loop Gallery his work is held in collections across Canada and internationally. Ian is a member of the international jury for the Prisma Art Prize based in Rome.
Inside the Studio
Q+A
Best season of the year in Toronto
I love Toronto in the summertime - especially in the early summer when the patios open . . .sigh . . .
Favourite musical artist / band right now
I have been a longtime Radiohead fan and have been rediscovering T-Rex.
I'm really good at making (a) ...
My New York Times No Knead bread is stunning but anybody can do it.
What artists do you admire right now?
I love the paintings of Jonas Wood and Hurvin Anderson. Their use of colour inspires me.
Favourite medium
I am a veteran oil painter. I have been painting in oil since I was a child but I sometimes still feel a little out of control with it which is very appealing. I like that it can be smeared, piled, dripped and scraped and the smell still drives me wild after so many years.
What kind of artwork do you have in your home?
My daughter is also an artist. She is a painter, photographer, and sculptor and we have a lot of work by her. I also collect work done by friends.
Upcoming Exhibitions
2025-06-05
2024-05-03
2021-01-14
2020-11-26
Select Past Exhibitions
2019
2018
2017
2016
2013
Accolades
2022
2021
2020
2019
2015
Press
2018
2015
Education
1989
Social
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