Monuments of Love and Life

An artful monument studio based on Galiano island, inspired by our magic home and unique people.

Michael Maclean is a local artist with over 35 years of design and fabrication experience, who first moved to Galiano in 1987.

Since 2005, Maclean has been making monuments for the Galiano Island Cemetery in British Columbia where he has collaborated with families there to create monuments that both represent the personality of the individual along with being in respectful and complementary dialogue with the natural environment. Recently, he has been expanding his memorial services into other communities, especially for individuals and families who desire something completely unique. In collaboration with you and any photographs and artifacts you wish to share, Michael endeavours to design and craft a lasting Monument of Love and Life.

Through his monument building practice, he strives to create works that promote a regenerative and liberating form of grieving. Michael finds that speaking with survivors, and seeing photographs and artifacts of the deceased inspire something very personal for the families that reflects their loved one’s interests and their individual dignity. Michael sees cemeteries and their memorials as not only for the ones who have left this world, but also for those who remain.

View the gallery of his work →