Jun Kaneko (b. 1942)
In 1942, Jun Kaneko was born in Nagoya, Japan where he studied painting
during his high school years. He came to the United States in 1963 to continue
those studies at Chouinard Institute of Art when his focus was drawn to
sculptural ceramics through his introduction to Fred Marer. He studied with
Peter Voulkos, Paul Soldner, and Jerry Rothman in California during the
time now defined as the contemporary ceramics movement. The following decade,
Kaneko taught at some of the nation's leading art schools including Scripps
College, Cranbrook Academy of Art, and Rhode Island School of Design.
Jun established his third studio in Omaha, Nebraska in 1990 where he
primarily works. He has also created work in several experimental studios
including European Ceramic Work Center, Otsuka Omi Ceramic Company, Fabric
Workshop, Bullseye Glass, and A.S.A.P. He He created series of large-scale
sculptures from 1982-1983 at his Omaha Project, from 1992-1994 at his
Fremont Project in California, and currently at his Mission Clay Project
in Kansas. His prolific roster of diverse work appears in numerous international
solo and group exhibitions annually. His work is included in more than
forty museum collections and his has realized over twenty-five public
art commissions around the world. He has been honored with national,
state, and organization fellowships and an honorary doctorate from the
Royal College of Art in London.
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