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.
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
$3,415
H 7.88 in W 3.94 in D 3.94 in
Cherry Blossom, ceramic, sculpture, original art
Located in Deddington, GB
porcelain wall installation comprising of 130 hand sculpted flowers fixed directly into the wall. Additional information: Ceramic on Stone Edition of 1 20 H x 10 W x 10 D cm (7.87 x ...
Ceramic
Femmes Fleurs (Women Pitcher)
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Pablo Picasso Ceramic Femmes Fleurs (Women Pitcher), 1948 A.R. 50 is an elegant turned pitcher highlights the graceful form of the female nude. C...
Ceramic, Earthenware
$400
H 7 in W 2 in D 3 in
"Cram", Abstract, White, Brown, Ceramic, Plaster, Mixed Media Sculpture
By Sara Fine-Wilson
Located in Franklin, MA
Sara Fine-Wilson's "Cram" is a 7 x 2 x 3 inch small scale abstract mixed media sculpture, primarily in shades of white with touches of brown. Multiple ceramic elements were previousl...
Porcelain, Stoneware, Plaster
$1,900
H 13 in W 16 in D 9 in
"Flip", Abstract, Gestural, Ceramic, White, Cream, Grey, Stoneware, Sculpture
By Sara Fine-Wilson
Located in Franklin, MA
Sara Fine-Wilson's “Flip" is a gestural 13 x 16 x 9 inch ceramic sculpture in white and cream with accents of blue and grey constructed from white stoneware. In this graceful and evo...
Stoneware, Glaze
$22,728
H 5.12 in W 5.91 in D 5.52 in
Petite Chouette 1949, Rare Picasso Ceramic Pitcher, Ramié Catalogue No. 82
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Eltville am Rhein, DE
Pablo Picasso Malaga 1881 - 1973 Mougins Petite Chouette, 1949 White earthware with engobe decoration, glazed interior 13 x 15 x 11 cm Impressed studio marke to undersite "EDITION P...
Ceramic
$225Sale Price|53% Off
H 3 in W 3.25 in D 3.25 in
Salt Shaker (hand-built and painted) (Gold, Luster, Vibrant, Colorful, Metallic)
By Melanie Sherman
Located in Kansas City, MO
Melanie Sherman Salt Shaker (hand-built and painted) Porcelain, Glaze, Underglaze, Overglaze, Vintage Transfers, 23k German Gold Luster and other metallic Lusters Hand built, hand pa...
Luster, Porcelain, Paint, Glaze, Underglaze
Shift #7
By Gregor Turk
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Shift #7" is a geographical ceramic piece featuring a range of bright to pale blue and terracotta hues. As a self-proclaimed topophiliac, Gregor Turk is known for ceramic sculptur...
Ceramic
Picador, 1953 A.R. 200
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Capturing the moment in which the picador stabs the charging bull with his lance, Picasso creates an image of action and suspense in Pablo Picasso ceramic Picador...
Earthenware
$6,500
H 36 in W 29 in D 10 in
Large Yellow Arch Stoneware Free Standing Sculpture by Jill Birschbach
Located in Chicago, IL
An evocative and imposing contemporary ceramic sculpture, *Large Yellow Arch* (2020) is a masterful exploration of architecture, industrial memory, and corporeal form by Midwest-base...
Stoneware, Glaze
The Moment by Johnson Tsang
By JOHNSON TSANG
Located in Manchester, GB
The Moment By Johnson Tsang 2024 Painted, dry cast and porcelain-filled resin, matte spray paint 43 x 15.6 x 13 cm Signed edition of 100 Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...
Porcelain, Resin, Paint
$3,500
H 28 in W 35 in D 5 in
Sounding IV - narrative of journey and change, mixed media, tapestry and vessel
By Heather Allen Hietala
Located in Bloomfield, ON
A ceramic canoe shape perforated and marked emerges from a plinth next to a tapestry of blue and light brown that repeats the vertical canoe shape. The title of this mixed media work...
Clay, Textile
$1,400
H 11 in W 7 in D 6 in
"Carry", Gestural, Ceramic, Green, Yellow, Brown, White, Stoneware, Sculpture
By Sara Fine-Wilson
Located in Franklin, MA
Sara Fine-Wilsons ”Carry” is a gestural 11 x 7 x 6 inch ceramic sculpture in pale celadon green with accents of warm yellow, brown and white. In this graceful and evocative sculpture...
Stoneware, Glaze
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
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
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...