Jun Kaneko

Jun
Kaneko
Abstract
Ceramic
Artist

"It takes so much effort to make a
big piece, so you better make sure
the piece is going to be good. So
don't make ugly, big piece!“
--Jun Kaneko

Whether in a Philadelphia where Giant
Heads are on display in a courtyard.

Or where they are displayed in a park.

You cannot escape the extraordinary works
of ceramicist Jun Kaneko.

The early years of Kanekos life were spent
studying the art of painting and regularly
attending night school.

In the year of 1963, Kaneko left Japan to
study art in Los Angeles, California.

It was here that he decided to trade in his
paintbrush for a set of potter's tools.

He began using clay as a sculptural medium
to create expressive works on a larger scale
than ever before.

Kaneko is known
for hand building
large-scale
sculptural works
that exemplify
visual elements
dealing with
movement, line,
and color.

The surfaces are
always painted with
dynamic colors and
designs that allow
the viewer to
become lost in the
sculpture.

Kanekos geometric patterns often give the
sculptures a since of energy and movement.

The forms of the
sculptures are
usually oval,
round, or square.

He produced a large
Dango series of
ceramic pieces
resembling vases
without openings.
Dango means
"dumpling" or
"closed form" in
Japanese.

He also created TANUKI figures.

They were inspired by that country’s folklore
in which the “tanuki” or “raccoon dog” is a
mischievous trickster.

Another monumental shapes he works with
is simply called Head.

These Heads
are six-feet
tall, and weigh
up 1,200-lbs.

"I'm pretty sure I don't know when
it's going to end, but without my
studio time, it's not even worth for
me to be alive almost.“
– Jun Kaneko

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