In 1942 Jun Kaneko was born in Nagoya, Japan where he studied painting during his high school years.  He came to the United States in 1963 to continue those studies at Chouinard Institute of Art when his focus was drawn to sculptural ceramics through his introduction to Fred Marer.  He studied with Peter Voulkos, Paul Soldner, and Jerry Rothman in California during the time now defined as the contemporary ceramics movement.  The following decade, Kaneko taught at some of the nation’s leading art schools, including Scripps College, Cranbrook Academy of Art and Rhode Island School of Design.

Jun established his third and current studio in 1990.  He has also created work in several experimental studios including European Ceramic Work Center, Otuska Omi Ceramic Company, Fabric Workshop, Bullseye Glass and A.S.A.P.  He created large-scale sculptures from 1982-1983 at his Omaha Project and from 1992-1994 at his Fremont Project in California.  His prolific roster of work appears in numerous international solo and group exhibitions annually.  His work is included in more than forty museum collections and he has realized over twenty-five public art commissions around the world.