Aden Mcleod - Sculptor
History
Born in Texas (1950), of Scottish and Cherokee descent, Aden McLeod has captured the likeness of world figures, historical identities and outback characters with his distinctive style. During a 35 year odyssey Aden has explored over 80 countries, interpreting their cultures in his work and sharing his holistic approach to sculpture with local communities. Working with breathtaking speed and startling intensity, Aden’s deft hands pummel and manipulate the clay to portray features rich in emotion, texture, dimension and movement. The finished work is a stunning combination of light reflective burnished and patina bronze. A flamboyant performance artist, Aden delights in taking his art to the people and has mesmerised audiences worldwide with his ability to intuitively reveal the spirit and likeness of his subjects. He also revels in the opportunity and freedom to create purely imaginative works with compelling and provocative results. The expressions of his sculptures seem to beg the statement, ‘Please hear what I am not saying…'.
Recent Works
- 2005 'Spirit of the Sea', Devonport,Tasmania an imposing 15 foot bronze figure coming up out of the sea, trident thrust above his head, water streaming down his body. A combined Service Club and community committee have proposed to erect the sculpture at the mouth of the Mersey River in Devonport, Tasmania.
- Donated a life size figure of a child to the Make a Wish Foundation in Devonport to raffle and raise funds.
- 2004 Deloraine Craft Fair, Tasmaniasponsored by the Rotary Cubub of Deloraine.
- 2003 Resident Artist Live Internet Sculpture Broadcast during
three months as artist-in-residence at Eltham College Aden created many
works of art, actively involving students in the creative process
which was broadcast live on the internet through the Eltham College
website.
- 2003 Water Spirits in the Outback bronze sculpture of five life-size children playing in a corrugated water tank next to a windmill. Two of the sculptures are piped with water to enact splashing.
- 2003 Spirit of the Sea an imposing 21st Century water spirit coming up out of the sea, standing over 10 feet tall, trident thrust above his head, water cascading down his body, wind billowing through his beard.
- 2003 Port Douglas Carnivale, Port Douglas, Queensland
- 2002 Mooloolaba Carnival of Arts
- 2002 Bishop Arthur Malcolmbronze bust of Australia's first indigenous bishop.
- 2002 Year of the Outback officially endorsed by 2002 Year of the Outback committee, Aden toured nationally sculpting the people of the outback in over 22 towns, communities and stations. The national tour was launched in January when Aden sculpted a bust of Ernie Dingo.
- 2001 Nelson Mandela, London, UK commissioned by the Volunteer Services Organisation, the bust was auctioned to raise funds for AIDS/HIV programs in South Africa.
- 2000 Sailor of Vilamoura, Marina de Vilamoura, Portugal life-size bronze of a sailor standing at the helm to celebrate the Marina’s 25th anniversary. Cast on site using a mobile foundry.
- 2000 H.M. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, London, UK with the Queen Mothers permission Aden sculpted a life-size figure of H.M. live in Trafalgar Square on her 100th birthday.
- 2000 Bath Millennium Fete, Bath, UK commissioned by the Charter Trustees of Bath to create a life-size clay image of two of the city’s famous residents.
- 2000 Tamworth Country Music Festival, Tamworth, Australia life-size sculpture of country music legend, Smoky Dawson. The clay sculpture was fired at the Gunnedah Brickworks. Also sculpted music artists Adam Brand, Lee Kernaghan and Tom Swatzell, and Australian line dancing champions Julie Talbot and Gordon Elliott.
- 1999 Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, Australia commissioned to sculpt a life-size figure of festival organiser Des Ritchie and Cape York Aboriginal elder Peter Costello.
- 1999 Sheraton Hotel, Algarve, Portugal commissioned to sculpt eight terracotta busts of Portugals illustrious navigators.
- 1997 Ocean Care Day, Sydney, Australia commissioned by the Manly Council Environment Centre Aden used 1000 kilos of clay to sculpt a 6-foot face and 10-foot high hand of a man coming up out of the sand. Sculpted in public on Ocean Beach, Manly, the event was sponsored by Blackmore’s Health Products to raise awareness of environmental care.
- 1997 Symphony on the Sand, Sydney, Australia commissioned by Warringah Council for sculpture demonstrations. Sculpted musician James Morrisson as he performed on stage.
Selected Exhibitions
- 2005 Art Expo 2005,McLeod Sculpture Studio, Devonport, Tasmania
- 2004 Art Expo 2004,McLeod Sculpture Studio, Devonport, Tasmania
- Living Artist's Week,McLeod Sculpture Studio, Devonport, Tasmania
- 2003 ‘MasterWorks’, Montsalvat, Melbourne, Australia
- 2002 Hart Gallery, Mooloolaba, Australia
- ‘Billycans’, Outback Regional Gallery, Winton (national touring exhibition)
- Creative Art Centre, Hyatt Regency Coolum, Australia
- 2001 Café Lounge, London, UK
- Talens Zout Concours, Knokke-Heist, Belgium
- Pousada dos Lois, Evora, Portugal
- Clube Nautica, Marina de Vilamoura, Portugal
- 2000 International Fiera Milano, Milan, Italy
- 1999 Fatasil ’99, Lagoa, Portugal
- 16th Ovibeja, Beja, Portugal
- 1998 Fiera da Artensenato, Povoa de Varzim, Portugal
- Sala de Exposicoes da A.D.P.M., Mertola, Portugal
- Palacio do Pomarao, Pomarao, Portugal
Teaching / Residencies
- 2006 Sculpture Workshop, McLeod Scultpure Studio, Devonport, Tasmania
- 2005 Sculpture Workshop, McLeod Sculpture Studio, Devonport, Tasmania
- 2004 Fintona College, Melbourne
- Methodist Ladies College, Melbourne
- Chinchilla State School, Queensland
- 2003 Artist-in-Residence, Eltham College of Education, Melbourne
- 2002 Winton Creative Arts, Winton, Australia
- 2002 Artist-in-Residence, Outback Regional Gallery, Waltzing Matilda Centre, Winton
- 2003 Manyallaluk Cultural Centre, Manyalluluk, NT
- 2002 Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, Tennant Creek, NT
- 2002 Northern Territory University, Tennant Creek, NT
- 2002 Creative Arts Centre, Hyatt Regency Coolum, Qld
- 2002 Guyala Arts and Crafts, Yarrabah, Qld
- 2001 Teaching CD-ROM "Learning to Let Go an introduction to portrait sculpture"
- 2000 Isle of Rassay Outdoor Education Centre, Isle of Rassay, Scotland
- 2000 Creative Art Centre, Hyatt Regency Coolum, Qld
- 2000 Teaching Tour, Inner City Youth Centres, Birmingham, UK
- 1999 Artist-in-Residence, Hotel RIU Canela, Spain; Hotel Quinta da Lago, Marinotel, and Montechorro Beach Club, Portugal
- 1998 ‘Temos Ferias’ a multi lingual children’s holiday camp, Portugal
Previous Works
Aden has restored old sculptures, monuments and buildings, working on all types of stone including marble, sandstone, limestone and granite.
Musical Talents: sings and plays guitar, mandolin, flute, violin and banjo.
Aspirations
- Create over 100 life-size sculptures in bronze depicting the cultural evolution of Australian people.
- Finish writing a book titled "Please hear what I’m not saying..."