Jun Kaneko

Jun Kaneko (American, born Japan 1942) studied painting in his native Japan as a young man. In 1963, he moved to the United States where he studied ceramics with a number of influential artists from the California School, including Peter Voulkos and Paul Soldner. Although Kaneko is best known for creating large-scale ceramic sculptures and installations, painting has remained an important part of his artistic practice throughout his career. In recent years Kaneko has also branched out to design opera sets and costumes for several productions in Omaha, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Vancouver.

This exhibition presents a survey of 39 works by Kaneko ranging in date from the early 1980s to the early 2000s. The works in the exhibition include a mix of large and small ceramic sculptures as well as a selection of paintings and drawings. The combination of works in different media emphasizes Kaneko’s strong command of form and colour, and his longstanding interest in optics and perception.

Jun Kaneko is a traveling exhibition organized by Smith Kramer Fine Art Services for a tour of North America. The Gardiner Museum is the final stop on the tour and the only scheduled Canadian venue for the exhibition.