Jun Kaneko is a Japanese-born American ceramic artist and painter. He is largely known for his large-scale hand-built clay sculptures he calls dangos, which is Japanese for dumpling and refers to their rounded forms. Reaching heights of at least eight feet, these monumental, often abstract ceramic works are aimed at civic engagement and are intended to promote viewers to get involved in issues of public concern.
Kaneko began to explore his creative side during his high school years in Japan where he studied painting. In 1963, Kaneko moved to the United States and continued his studies at the Chouinard Art Institute.
Kaneko was drawn to ceramic sculpture after having been introduced to Fred Marer, a professor of mathematics at Los Angeles City College and a lifelong collector of contemporary ceramics. Marer had built deep relationships with the major West Coast ceramic artists that were represented in his vast collection — which was later donated to Scripps College — and owing to Kaneko’s connection to Marer, the budding Japanese artist studied during the mid-1960s with the likes of Peter Voulkos, Paul Soldner and Jerry Rothman, each a seminal figure in the development of American contemporary ceramics.
Kaneko later taught at art schools and, in 1986, moved to Nebraska, which is his primary residence today. In 1990, Kaneko opened his third studio in Nebraska and has also worked at a variety of experimental studios in the United States, Asia and Europe.
Over the years Kaneko has created costumes and sets for opera productions and has built more than 70 large-scale public installations — both temporary and permanent. His work can be seen in Canada, China and Jakarta, in locations across the United States and elsewhere. Kaneko’s sculptures are also held in the collections of more than 80 museums. The ceramist has received a number of awards over the years including a Commendation from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, a Gold Medal for Consummate Craftsmanship from the American Craft Council and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Sculpture Center.
Find original Jun Kaneko sculptures and other art on 1stDibs.
$68,000Sale Price|20% Off
Dango Ceramic Sculpture by Jun Kaneko, 21st Century, 40x38x15 in
By Jun Kaneko
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Artist: Jun Kaneko Title: Dango Medium: Fired Clay Ceramic Sculpture Size: 40" x 38" x 15" Year: 2003 Jun Kaneko's "Dango" (2003) reflects the artist's longstanding engagement with ...
Ceramic
Drawing 02-02-16
By Jun Kaneko
Located in Phoenix, AZ
sumi ink and oil stick on Korean paper (72 x 61.5 x 1.5 inches, framed) b. 1942, Nagoya, Japan Jun Kaneko’s most recognized sculptural form is the boldly glazed, monumental dango (...
Oil Crayon, Sumi Ink, Handmade Paper
$10,500Sale Price|30% Off
Jun Kaneko Signed 1998 Original Oil Stick and Ink on Paper
By Jun Kaneko
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Artist: Jun Kaneko Title: Untitled Medium: Oil Stick and Ink on Paper Dimensions: 43" × 29.25" Year: 1998 Inscription: Signed bottom front, "Kaneko 98" Jun Kaneko's untitled paintin...
Paper, Oil
$19,000
Untitled
By Jun Kaneko
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Best known for his large-scale, monumental dango (Japanese for “rounded form”) sculptures, Jun Kaneko makes glazed ceramicsm that resemble inflated, three-dimensional canvases. Often...
Mixed Media, Handmade Paper
$1,800
H 31 in W 43 in D 2 in
"Crescent Rose" Mixed Media Handmade Paper Watercolor Abstract by Bruce Weinberg
By Bruce Weinberg
Located in Soquel, CA
"Crescent Rose" Mixed Media Handmade Paper Watercolor Abstract by Bruce Weinberg Soft lavenders, magentas and gray tones highlighted with purple thread and sheets of gold leaf mingle to create a soft and lovely abstract on handmade paper by California artist Bruce Weinberg (American, 1942-1994). Image is floated on a silk background. Pencil signed and dated "Bruce Weinberg 1980" lower right. Pencil signed title "Crescent Rose" lower left. Displayed in a giltwood frame with spacer. Image size: 24"H x 35"L. Framed size: 31"H x 43"W x 2"D. Bruce Weinberg was a long time resident of the San Francisco Bay Area. He studied Interior Design at the Philadelphia College of Art and Architectural Space Planning at Temple University. During the 1970s he studied printmaking and drawing at San Francisco's Fort Mason...
Mixed Media, Handmade Paper
$5,607
H 20.5 in W 12.5 in D 4 in
Haniwa Warrior 179 - Ceramic Sculpture, Edition 2 of 8 (Contemporary Art)
By Noe Kuremoto
Located in New Orleans, LA
Noe Kuremoto — A Contemporary Keeper of Ancient Wisdom Noe Kuremoto’s work exists at the intersection of mythology, memory, and modernity. A ceramic artist of singular vision, she s...
Ceramic
Vintage Oil Still Life - Copper Pot & Artichokes
By Raymond Bailly
Located in Houston, TX
This charmingly impressionist oil still life depicts an antique copper pot, a glass bottle, and two artichokes by French artist Raymond Bailly, 1970s. Original artwork on paper dis...
Oil, Paper
$28,000
H 7.75 in W 7.5 in
Robert Rauschenberg -Snowflake Crime XIX ACE Gallery Coll unique signed painting
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in New York, NY
Historic, institutional quality unique Rauschenberg signed work on paper, with storied provenance: a real gem: Robert Rauschenberg 'Snowflake Crime XIX', from the ACE Gallery Collec...
Fabric, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Handmade Paper, Permanent Marker
Vintage French Oil Still Life - The Painter's Box
Located in Houston, TX
Warmly hued oil on paper still life of open wooden box with artist's supplies spilling out, circa 1930. Signed lower right. Original artwork on paper displayed on a white mat with ...
Oil, Paper
Vintage Oil Landscape - Autumn Trail
By Raymond Bailly
Located in Houston, TX
Lovely oil on paper landscape of autumn colored trees lining a small pathway in a park by artist Raymond Bailly, 1966. Original one-of-a-kind artwork on paper displayed on a white ...
Oil, Paper
"Iridescence, " Mixed Media Sculpture
By Michael Thompson
Located in Chicago, IL
Based in Chicago, IL, contemporary artist Michael Thompson creates unique kites, collages and mixed media works assembled from material fragments of past and present collected in his travels. In his ongoing series of memory jugs, Thompson adorns stoneware vessels with a kaleidoscope of ceramic shards, found objects, and pocket-sized trinkets he collected over the course of his life. Also known as forget-me-not jugs or spirit jars...
Stone
Vintage French Oil Still Life - Roses & Reading
Located in Houston, TX
Spectacular oil painting on paper of an elegant bouquet of roses in a decorative pitcher sitting upon a leather bound book by French artist Marrot, 1942. Signed and dated lower left....
Oil, Paper
$5,607
H 17.75 in W 13.75 in D 5.5 in
Haniwa Warrior 194 - Ceramic Sculpture, Edition 1 of 8 (Contemporary Art)
By Noe Kuremoto
Located in New Orleans, LA
Noe Kuremoto — A Contemporary Keeper of Ancient Wisdom Noe Kuremoto’s work exists at the intersection of mythology, memory, and modernity. A ceramic artist of singular vision, she s...
Ceramic
$5,628
H 20.5 in W 8.75 in D 4 in
Haniwa Warrior 106 - Ceramic Sculpture, Edition 1 of 8 (Contemporary Art)
By Noe Kuremoto
Located in New Orleans, LA
Noe Kuremoto — A Contemporary Keeper of Ancient Wisdom Noe Kuremoto’s work exists at the intersection of mythology, memory, and modernity. A ceramic artist of singular vision, she s...
Ceramic
$5,607
H 23.5 in W 13.5 in D 7.5 in
Haniwa Warrior 195 - Ceramic Sculpture, Edition 1 of 8 (Contemporary Art)
By Noe Kuremoto
Located in New Orleans, LA
Noe Kuremoto — A Contemporary Keeper of Ancient Wisdom Noe Kuremoto’s work exists at the intersection of mythology, memory, and modernity. A ceramic artist of singular vision, she s...
Ceramic
$5,607
H 23.25 in W 9 in D 4.75 in
Haniwa Warrior 165 - Ceramic Sculpture, Edition 3 of 8 (Contemporary Art)
By Noe Kuremoto
Located in New Orleans, LA
Noe Kuremoto — A Contemporary Keeper of Ancient Wisdom Noe Kuremoto’s work exists at the intersection of mythology, memory, and modernity. A ceramic artist of singular vision, she s...
Ceramic
$5,607
H 21 in W 9 in D 6.75 in
Haniwa Warrior 163 - Ceramic Sculpture, Edition 2 of 8 (Contemporary Art)
By Noe Kuremoto
Located in New Orleans, LA
Noe Kuremoto — A Contemporary Keeper of Ancient Wisdom Noe Kuremoto’s work exists at the intersection of mythology, memory, and modernity. A ceramic artist of singular vision, she s...
Ceramic
$5,628
H 17 in W 12.5 in D 4 in
Haniwa Warrior 178 - Ceramic Sculpture, Edition 4 of 8 (Contemporary Art)
By Noe Kuremoto
Located in New Orleans, LA
Edition 4 of 8 Noe Kuremoto — A Contemporary Keeper of Ancient Wisdom Noe Kuremoto’s work exists at the intersection of mythology, memory, and modernity. A ceramic artist of singul...
Ceramic
$55,000
H 21 in W 17 in D 1.5 in
Charmion Von Wiegand - Intersecting Magic Square gouache on board, signed Framed
By Charmion von Wiegand
Located in New York, NY
Charmion von Wiegand Intersecting Magic Square, ca. 1963 Gouache on paperboard Signed and titled on the back of the artwork. The signature shown on the frame back is a photo of the a...
Mixed Media, Gouache, Handmade Paper, Pencil
Polka Dot Tile
By Jun Kaneko
Located in Kansas City, MO
Jun Kaneko Polka Dot Tile Stoneware, Glaze 1990 Approx. 18.5 x 15 x 1 in COA provided Comes with papers Ref.: 90-9-41 Ref.: 924802-1008 "Scale in nature pr...
Ceramic, Stoneware, Glaze
Drawing 02-09-37
By Jun Kaneko
Located in Phoenix, AZ
sumi ink and oil stick on Korean paper (72 x 61.5 x 1.5 inches, framed) b. 1942, Nagoya, Japan Jun Kaneko’s most recognized sculptural form is the boldly glazed, monumental dango (...
Oil Crayon, Sumi Ink, Handmade Paper
Two Cubes (on Tray)
By Jun Kaneko
Located in Kansas City, MO
Jun Kaneko Two Cubes (on Tray) Ceramic, Glaze 1984 13 x 24 x 14 in Signed and dated (bottom) COA provided Ref.: 924802-1006 "Scale in nature presents a great challenge to all object...
Ceramic, Stoneware, Glaze
Stoneware Charger
By Jun Kaneko
Located in Kansas City, MO
Jun Kaneko Title : "Stoneware Charger" Materials : Large Stoneware Charger with Pastel, Gray and Black Striped Ground Date: 1981 Dimensions : 22.2...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Drawing 02-09-24
By Jun Kaneko
Located in Phoenix, AZ
sumi ink and oil stick on Korean paper 72 x 61.5 x 1.5 inches framed Jun Kaneko’s interest in art making began during his adolesence in Japan, where he studied painting with Satosh...
Paper, Ink, Sumi Ink, Oil
Untitled (Dango)
By Jun Kaneko
Located in Kansas City, MO
Jun Kaneko Title: Untitled (Dango) Year: 2014 Material: Glazed Ceramic Size: 22.5 x 12 x 9 inches Signed "Scale in nature presents a great challenge to all object-makers. Mountains,...
Ceramic, Glaze
1123
By Jun Kaneko
Located in Phoenix, AZ
glazed ceramic
Ceramic, Glaze
1122
By Jun Kaneko
Located in Phoenix, AZ
glazed ceramics
Ceramic
Untitled (Dango)
By Jun Kaneko
Located in Morton Grove, IL
stoneware and glaze
Stoneware, Glaze
Sold
H 69 in W 26 in D 20 in
Ceramic Head Pair Covered in Glass Mosaic with Steel Stands by Jun Kaneko, 2016
By Jun Kaneko
Located in St. Louis, MO
Jun Kaneko's ambitious work tests the physical limitations of the ceramic material. Prolific and world renowned, these contemplative head forms are a signature within the artist's c...
Stainless Steel, Steel
Sold
H 17 in W 19.5 in D 1.5 in
Small Raku Wall Slab by Jun Kaneko, Wall Mounted Ceramic with Painterly Glazing
By Jun Kaneko
Located in St. Louis, MO
Jun Kaneko's work is a marriage of painting and ceramics, utilizing the sculptural forms to inform the painterly glaze application, design, and color palette. With the added beauty ...
Ceramic, Clay, Glaze
Sold
H 24.75 in W 13.75 in D 9 in
Untitled Dango by Jun Kaneko, Two Foot Tall Ceramic Form with Colorful Glaze
By Jun Kaneko
Located in St. Louis, MO
Jun Kaneko's dango forms are a wonder of ceramics. Elegant and refined in shape, with a variety of glazes applied. The surfaces can range from a perfectly applied single color, to ...
Ceramic, Clay, Glaze
Sold
H 24.5 in W 13.5 in D 9 in
Untitled Dango Form by Jun Kaneko, Ceramic and Glazing with Stripe Pattern, 2014
By Jun Kaneko
Located in St. Louis, MO
This wonderful piece by Jun Kaneko stands at 24.5" high. Being on the smaller side of his Dango forms is advantageous for the collector wishing to acquire a piece of Kaneko's withou...
Ceramic, Clay, Glaze
Wall Slab 93-01-31
By Jun Kaneko
Located in Phoenix, AZ
glazed ceramics Jun Kaneko’s interest in art making began during his adolesence in Japan, where he studied painting with Satoshi Ogaway. In 1963 he came to the United States to c...
Untitled, Wall Slab 2
By Jun Kaneko
Located in Morton Grove, IL
hand glazed cast raku ceramics
Cast Stone