Jacques & Mary Regat

Twenty years ago, making Anchorage their home, Jacques and Mary met and married. They immediately began combining their talents to create pieces which extended beyond what either one could do alone. “Sculpting together is like having a whole set of new tools to work with,” says Mary.

Jacques’ career began in France, where he taught himself to paint and carve in clay, wood and stone. While working with metal, learning the trade of machinist, tool and die maker at the same time, he was eventually led to graduate from the College d’ Enseignement Technique De Vitry, France. He also apprenticed himself to an Italian carver and a Chinese decorator. In Alaska, while sharing his talent at the Native Welcome Center he developed a strong kinship and respect for the cultural myths and history of its people. This became an inspirational theme reflected in many of their works. He graduated cum laude from the University of Alaska in Anchorage, with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and an anthropology minor.

Mary, primarily a self-taught artist, began sculpting while living in a remote logging camp on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska. Her first efforts were a 28-foot dug out canoe. Traveling north, she took up residence in Anchorage, Alaska and began sculpting in stone. Her style is expressive and impressionistic, capturing the emotions and moods of her subjects.

The Regats are currently working in bronze, silver, wood and stone lithographs. Jacques and Mary have enjoyed sculpting in large scale and have several monuments to their credit. The Regats have participated many times in the One Percent for Art in Public Places program. Their work is also represented by more than 135 different editions of bronze sculptures, 53 of which are sold out.
Many of their sculptures are included in public and private collections throughout the world. Jacques and Mary feel their greatest recognition has come from the general public that has supported their endeavors throughout the years.

Jacques & Mary Regat