John McLean: Pleasure Garden
I work towards such an interdependence of parts that nothing could be added or taken away: a kind of absolute. When it happens, the eye and the spirit join up, just as the ear and soul do when you listen to a fine song.
The Fine Art Society presents an exhibition of painting, works on paper and sculpture by abstract artist John McLean, highlighting the cohesion of his work and his emphasis on visual spaciality across large and small scales, in two- and three-dimensions.
Work from across four decades of John's career is on show, marking a route from expansive gestural abstraction to deliniated geometry. The most recent painting in the exhibition - an untitled canvas from 2019 - brings both aspects of John's practice together: clear and measured stripes of colour consist of mottled pigments and swept surfaces.
The draw of sculpture remained with John across his career, from his early days learning to weld and cut steel at Stockwell Depot, through visits to Emma Lake in the 1980s, to his collaborations with fellow APT artist Steve Lewis; several of which are exhibited here. In his excellent monograph on John and his work, Ian Collins notes that sculpture gave John "the freedom of collage and the fluency of drawing in space".
Paintings in the exhibition are on show from 20 September, to be joined by John's sculptures from 23 October
The estate of John McLean is managed by The Fine Art Society. Please contact us with any enquiries relating to sales, loans and copyright.
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John McLeanSplayed, 1980signed, titled and dated 1980 to stretcher versoacrylic on canvas56 x 69 inches
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John McLeanUntitled, c.1981acrylic on canvas62 x 38 ¼ inches
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John McLeanUntitled, c.1981acrylic on canvas42 x 42 inches
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John McLeanBevy, 1982acrylic on canvas43 ¼ x 69 ¾ inches
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John McLeanBeaver Creek, 1989initialled and dated 89; signed, titled and dated versoacrylic and watercolour on paper22 x 30 inches£ 3,200.00
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John McLeanHaven, 1990initialled and dated 90; signed, titled and dated versoacrylic and watercolour on paper30 x 22 inches£ 3,200.00
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John McLeanUntitledacrylic on heavy paper15 x 22 inches£ 2,800.00
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John McLeanUntitledacrylic on canvas34 x 58 ¾ inches
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John McLeanUntitledacrylic on canvas43 ¾ x 65 inches
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John McLeanUntitledacrylic on canvas26 ¾ x 82 ½ inches
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John McLeanUntitledacrylic on paper15 ½ x 12 ¾ inches£ 1,500.00
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John McLeanInvermark, 1995signed, titled and dated versoacrylic on canvas53 ¼ x 64 inches
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John McLeanEast Coast, 1996/1998signed, titled and dated 1996/8 versoacrylic on canvas66 ¼ x 20 inches
168.5 x 51 cm -
John McLeanBalbeuchly, 1996/2001signed, titled and dated 1996/2001 versoacrylic on canvas16 ¼ x 92 ½ inches
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John McLeanArcady, 1988/2003signed, titled and dated versoacrylic on canvas30 x 89 inches
76 x 226 cm -
John McLeanPleasure Garden, 1998/2003signed, titled and dated 1998/2003 versoacrylic on canvas28 ¼ x 54 ¾ inches
72 x 139 cm -
John McLeanGiallo, 2007signed, titled and dated versoacrylic on canvas9 ¾ x 14 ¼ inches£ 1,400.00
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John McLeanJacob's Ladder (II), 2008signed, titled and dated 2008 versoacrylic on canvas120 x 12 inches
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John McLeanUntitled, 2019acrylic on canvas82 ½ x 17 ¾ inches
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John McLeanTraffic Yellow, 2009steel, powder coated steel and powder coated aluminium94 ½ x 55 x 33 ½ inches
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John McLeanGioco, 2009acrylic on etch printed aluminium31 ½ x 31 ½ x 25 inches
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John McLeanGioia, 2009acrylic on etch printed aluminium31 ½ x 31 ½ x 25 inches
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John McLeanGiocoliere, 2009acrylic on etch printed aluminium31 ½ x 31 ½ x 25 inches