The Art of Robert Arneson

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how Robert Arneson changed the way people looked at ceramics and sculpture. The paper shows how Arneson was different; he did not accept the established rules of different art forms and he never conformed to what others thought about his work. The paper asserts that Arneson's ability to create whimsical and yet touching works gives his work a spirituality and meaning that is far greater than most ceramic pieces can ever hope to accomplish.

From the Paper:

"Robert Arneson was born in Benicia, California in 1930, and was interested in art from a young age. His father encouraged him to draw, and later he became interested in ceramics. He studied art after high school and received an advanced degree in the arts, as well. One biographer notes, "Arneson became head of the ceramics department at the University of California at Davis in 1962 and became a full professor of art in 1973" ("The Art"). His view of ceramics was different, and he saw ceramics as a way to influence art, rather than just make cups and saucers and such. He had studied the expressionists as part of his art education and he enjoyed bringing new elements into his ceramic sculptures. The Editors continue, "Arneson was part of the dynamic group of irreverent California Pop artists whose work has come to be known as 'Funk Art'" ("The Art"). The artist died of liver cancer in 1992, but his work lives on in many art forms today."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Editors. "Robert Arneson's Eggheads." University of California at Davis. 2008. 18 March 2008.<http://eggheads.ucdavis.edu/>
• Editors. "The Art of Robert Arneson." Verisimilitudo.com.1992. 18 March 2008.<http://www.verisimilitudo.com/arneson/>
• Lauria, Jo and Adkins, Gretchen. Color and Fire: Defining Moments in Studio Ceramics, 1950-2000. Los Angeles: LACMA; Rizzoli International Publications, 2000.
• Natsoulas, John. "Robert Arneson." John Natsoulas Gallery. 2007. 18 March 2008.<http://www.natsoulas.com/html/artists/robertArneson/robertArneson.html>
• Peterson, Susan. "Ceramics in the West." Color and Fire: Defining Moments in Studio Ceramics, 1950-2000. Los Angeles: LACMA; Rizzoli International Publications, 2000. 86-121.

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