Learn more about Jun Kaneko 08-28-2009 Learn more about Jun Kaneko Jun Kaneko Sculpture Internationally acclaimed artist Jun Kaneko has exhibited throughout the world and he is widely recognized for his innovative approaches to sculpture in such diverse materials as clay, bronze and glass. Kaneko, born in Nagoya, Japan in 1942 began his formal studies in art in the US at the Chouinard Art Institute and continued at Berkeley and Claremont Graduate School. Kaneko studied with Peter Voulkos, Paul Soldner and Jerry Rothman—artists who helped shape what would become known as the Contemporary Ceramics Movement. After graduate school, the artist taught at RISD and Cranbrook Academy of Art. Since the mid-90s, Kaneko has focused on an ongoing series of immense-scaled ceramic works--collectively referred to by the artist as dangos. The multiple steps involved with each piece (drawing, painting, firing and glazing) require constant and intense engagement with the artist’s hand. Kaneko’s vocabulary of surface images are repeatedly applied as the pieces undergo multiple firings— the entire process can take 2 1/2 years from start to finish. A retrospective of the artist’s sculpture was organized by the National Museum of Art, Osaka, Japan in 2006 and recent commissions include the Phoenix Art Museum, San Francisco International Airport and the University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle. Kaneko’s work is in over fifty museum collections throughout the world including Arabia Museum, Helsinki, Finland; Detroit Institute of Arts; Los Angeles County Art Museum; Museum of Art and Design, NY; The National Museum of Art, Osaka, Japan; Philadelphia Museum of Art; Phoenix Art Museum and Smithsonian American Art Museum. Recently, the artist has achieved success in a new realm—designs and staging for opera, including Madama Butterfly and Fidelio—his groundbreaking design for Beethoven’s Fidelio had its world premiere in Philadelphia in 2008 with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, with Madama Butterfly opening the 2009-2010 opera season in Philadelphia. View a short interview with Jun Kaneko about his ceramic work. Read the New York Times’ Michael Kimmelman’s feature on Jun Kaneko from 2007, Giants of the Heartland. Visit Jun Kaneko’s web site. Visit The Kaneko. Click here to return to the On the Wings Project homepage Click here to purchase MADAMA BUTTERFLY tickets now! Partners in Presenting Art, Opera & You:
Learn more about Jun Kaneko
Jun Kaneko Sculpture
Internationally acclaimed artist Jun Kaneko has exhibited throughout the world and he is widely recognized for his innovative approaches to sculpture in such diverse materials as clay, bronze and glass.
Kaneko, born in Nagoya, Japan in 1942 began his formal studies in art in the US at the Chouinard Art Institute and continued at Berkeley and Claremont Graduate School. Kaneko studied with Peter Voulkos, Paul Soldner and Jerry Rothman—artists who helped shape what would become known as the Contemporary Ceramics Movement. After graduate school, the artist taught at RISD and Cranbrook Academy of Art.
Since the mid-90s, Kaneko has focused on an ongoing series of immense-scaled ceramic works--collectively referred to by the artist as dangos. The multiple steps involved with each piece (drawing, painting, firing and glazing) require constant and intense engagement with the artist’s hand. Kaneko’s vocabulary of surface images are repeatedly applied as the pieces undergo multiple firings— the entire process can take 2 1/2 years from start to finish.
A retrospective of the artist’s sculpture was organized by the National Museum of Art, Osaka, Japan in 2006 and recent commissions include the Phoenix Art Museum, San Francisco International Airport and the University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle. Kaneko’s work is in over fifty museum collections throughout the world including Arabia Museum, Helsinki, Finland; Detroit Institute of Arts; Los Angeles County Art Museum; Museum of Art and Design, NY; The National Museum of Art, Osaka, Japan; Philadelphia Museum of Art; Phoenix Art Museum and Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Recently, the artist has achieved success in a new realm—designs and staging for opera, including Madama Butterfly and Fidelio—his groundbreaking design for Beethoven’s Fidelio had its world premiere in Philadelphia in 2008 with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, with Madama Butterfly opening the 2009-2010 opera season in Philadelphia.
View a short interview with Jun Kaneko about his ceramic work.
Read the New York Times’ Michael Kimmelman’s feature on Jun Kaneko from 2007, Giants of the Heartland.
Visit Jun Kaneko’s web site.
Visit The Kaneko.
Click here to return to the On the Wings Project homepage
Click here to purchase MADAMA BUTTERFLY tickets now!
Partners in Presenting Art, Opera & You:
