Malcolm McClay

Malcolm McClay is the Pliner Professor in the Department of Art/Sculpture at Louisiana State University (LSU) within the College of Art & Design. He joined LSU in 2003 and teaches courses ranging from foundational sculpture to graduate-level thesis work. Born in Derry, Northern Ireland, and raised in Donegal, Ireland, he holds a BA (Hons) in Three-Dimensional Design from the University of Ulster, an MA in Sculpture from New Mexico State University, and an MFA in Sculpture and Performance from Ohio State University.

McClay’s artistic practice focuses on three core themes: the socio-political impact of political forces, the aesthetic potential of mechanical systems, and audience interaction. After co-founding performance company Crisus in the 1990s, he transitioned to interactive installations and kinetic sculpture before returning to performance with Ekstasis (2013) at New Orleans’ Good Children Gallery (of which he is a founding member). He splits his time between the US and Ireland, exhibiting and curating across both regions.

His teaching spans undergraduate and graduate sculpture, performance, and site-specific interventions. Though no specific grants or awards are listed, his work reflects sustained engagement with interdisciplinary art practices bridging sculpture, performance, and technology.