Jun Kaneko: Full Circle
February 6th–April 11, 2027
Jun Kaneko, Self-portrait, c. 1974. Photograph. Courtesy of the Ree & Jun Kaneko Foundation.
Presented in conjunction with Scripps College’s centennial, the 82nd Scripps College Ceramic Annual, entitled Jun Kaneko: Full Circle, is the first exhibition to explore the formative and enduring relationship between internationally renowned ceramic artist Jun Kaneko and Scripps. The show also traces Kaneko’s development as a groundbreaking ceramic sculptor, with more than 30 works ranging from early vessels to monolithic forms.
Curated by ceramic historian, educator, and author Nancy M. Servis, the exhibition highlights Kaneko’s early encounters with clay following his arrival in Southern California from Japan in 1963—experiences that profoundly shaped his lifelong artistic trajectory. Kaneko discovered ceramics through the encouragement of collectors Fred and Mary Marer. Their extensive holdings, which were gifted to Scripps College in the 1990s, are among the most significant documenting twentieth-century Southern California ceramics.
“Encountering the Marer Collection at such an early stage was transformative for Kaneko,” says Servis. “The artist’s radical approaches to form, scale and material opened new possibilities for clay as a sculptural and conceptual medium, helping anchor his own creative identity.”
Kaneko’s engagement with clay deepened as he worked with artists such as Jerry Rothman and Scripps professor Paul Soldner. He enrolled at Claremont Graduate University in 1971 and taught ceramics courses at Scripps in 1974, solidifying his ties to The Claremont Colleges art community.
The artist’s practice also includes painting, drawing, glass, installation, operatic costume and stage design. Two costumes he designed for Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute will also be on view, illustrating his expansive experimentation. Together, these works reflect the Japanese concept of ma, often understood as the “space between.” This philosophical approach to balance, presence and spatial awareness has guided the artist for decades and is woven throughout the exhibition.
“Scripps College and the Claremont community occupy a singular place in Kaneko’s artistic history,” says Erin M. Curtis, Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler Director of the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery. “This exhibition recognizes the lasting impact of mentorship, community and institutional support—values that resonate deeply during Scripps College’s centennial year.”
Programs
Join the Williamson Gallery for these free, public events presented in conjunction with An Artistic Legacy:
Opening Reception
Saturday, February 6, 2027 | 7–9 PM
Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery
Join us for music and refreshments as we celebrate the remarkable career of Jun Kaneko.
Donor Support
Jun Kaneko: Full Circle and related programs have been made possible through the generous support of:
The Joan and David Lincoln Endowment for Ceramic Art
Brent and Susan Maire
Pasadena Art Alliance
The Paul Soldner Endowment