Since his days as a rebellious student at Central Saint Martins, McLean has tackled the complexities and contradictions of art—chiselling away at its self-seriousness. His work, which touches nearly every medium from photography, film and performance to painting, drawing and printmaking, has expanded these fields through humour and an unrelenting spirit of creativity.
All images Courtesy of the artist and Tanya Leighton, Berlin
A particular focus in McLean’s long career has been the qualifications of an artwork. The question of what constitutes a sculpture—should a scone or a well-peeled potato also be considered?

Bruce McLean
‘Sawing Sculpture’, 1971
8 Black-and-white vintage photographs
8×11.5 cm each
‘Sawing Sculpture’, 1971
8 Black-and-white vintage photographs
8×11.5 cm each

Bruce McLean
‘A Sliced Loaf on a Sofa’, 2019
Inkjet print on Dibond
40.5×61 cm
‘A Sliced Loaf on a Sofa’, 2019
Inkjet print on Dibond
40.5×61 cm

Bruce McLean
‘Taking a Line For a Walk’, 1969
Unique black-and-white photograph
18×23 cm
‘Taking a Line For a Walk’, 1969
Unique black-and-white photograph
18×23 cm

Bruce McLean
‘Tea on the Knee’, 1971
Black-and-white photograph
23.5×15 cm
‘Tea on the Knee’, 1971
Black-and-white photograph
23.5×15 cm

Bruce McLean
Installation view, ‘Time-Based Painting’
Tanya Leighton, Berlin.
Installation view, ‘Time-Based Painting’
Tanya Leighton, Berlin.

Bruce McLean
‘Invisible Sculpture’, 1969
8 black-and-white vintage photographs mounted on board
30×27 cm each
‘Invisible Sculpture’, 1969
8 black-and-white vintage photographs mounted on board
30×27 cm each

Bruce McLean
‘Snow on the Nose’, 2016
Silkscreen print
71.5×70 cm
‘Snow on the Nose’, 2016
Silkscreen print
71.5×70 cm

Bruce McLean
‘Mirror Work’, 1969
Black-and-white photograph
20×19.5 cm
‘Mirror Work’, 1969
Black-and-white photograph
20×19.5 cm

Bruce McLean
Installation view, ‘A Lawnmower in the loft (a sculpture of the book)’
Tanya Leighton, Berlin. 14 March – 27 June 2020
Installation view, ‘A Lawnmower in the loft (a sculpture of the book)’
Tanya Leighton, Berlin. 14 March – 27 June 2020