Meet the Artist
Ian Madin
Sculpture
Ian Madin of Wildstones Art in Lake Oswego, Oregon, is a retired geologist who has pursued stone sculpture for the last 8 years. He works with native Oregon stones collected across the state. Ian creates sculptures based on the natural shapes and patinas of stone foraged in Oregon. He selects stones that he can shape and polish to juxtapose the natural and worked surfaces.
Ian has participated in numerous shows and open studios across the region. He has also exhibited at the Reser Theater in Beaverton in conjunction with Oregon Origins Project premiere of the "Birth of Cascadia" symphony, and at Reed College in conjunction with the premiere of the "Seven Wonders" music and dance performance. In 2026, he had an exhibit at the Lake Oswego library and has been accepted to several upcoming festivals. Ian is currently preparing a special exhibit at the Rice Museum of Rocks and Minerals starting later this year.
Ian is the President of the Board for the arts organization "Oregon Origins," a member of the board for the Playa at Summer Lake artists residency program, and a member of the Board of Advisors for the College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at OSU. Since 2013 he has had the pleasure of being the ride-along geologist for Cycle Oregon's annual weeklong ride.
Materials and technique: Ian shapes and polishes with a wet grinder and diamond polishing pads and blades. He uses latex coatings to preserve natural surfaces while working, and sealants on some surfaces to enhance color. Finally, the stone sculptures are mounted on scrap steel, countertop stone, or found stones. Most pieces are between 6-24 inches in maximum dimension.