Robert Arneson facts for kids

Doyen by Robert Arneson, 1972, glazed ceramic, Honolulu Museum of Art

Robert Carston Arneson (September 4, 1930 – November 2, 1992) was a famous American sculptor and art professor. He taught ceramics at the University of California, Davis for almost 30 years.

Early Life and Art School

Robert Arneson was born in Benicia, California, on September 4, 1930. When he was young, he worked as a cartoonist for a local newspaper.

He went to the California College of the Arts in Oakland, California, to earn his first art degree. Later, he got his master's degree from Mills College, also in Oakland, in 1958.

His Unique Art Style

35 Year Portrait, a double-sided self-portrait sculpture on display at the Smithsonian American Art Museum

In the early 1960s, Robert Arneson and other artists in California started doing something new. Instead of making useful ceramic items like bowls, they began creating sculptures that were fun and sometimes a bit shocking.

This new art style was called Funk Art. Many people consider Arneson to be the "father" of the ceramic Funk movement. His art often showed his sense of humor.

Self-Portraits in Clay

Arneson made many self-portraits, which are sculptures of himself. People have called his collection of self-portraits an "autobiography in clay." This means his art tells the story of his life.

For example, his 1972 sculpture Doyen, found at the Honolulu Museum of Art, is a funny self-portrait.

The Eggheads Sculptures

Even his large "Eggheads" sculptures look a bit like him. These sculptures were among the last works Arneson finished before he passed away in 1992.

Five "Eggheads" were placed at the UC Davis campus around 1994. These sculptures caused some discussion but are still a big part of the campus. Two more "Eggheads" were installed in San Francisco.

The Moscone Bust

One of Arneson's most well-known and talked-about works is a sculpture of George Moscone. Moscone was the mayor of San Francisco.

This sculpture caused a lot of discussion because of the words carved into its base. These words referred to important events in Mayor Moscone's life.

Teaching Art to Students

The Robert C. Arneson Park in Benicia, California

Robert Arneson started teaching soon after getting his master's degree. He taught at Santa Rosa Junior College and Fremont High School. Then, he taught design and crafts at Mills College.

In 1962, Arneson joined the University of California, Davis. The head of the Art Department, Richard L. Nelson, saw Arneson's talent. Nelson was building a team of amazing artists to teach there. Other famous artists like Manuel Neri, Wayne Thiebaud, and William T. Wiley also taught at UC Davis.

Arneson started the ceramic sculpture program for the Art Department. This was a bold step because, at that time, ceramics were not usually seen as a "fine art." Arneson taught in a building called TB-9 for almost 30 years until he retired in 1991.

Legacy and Famous Works

Robert Arneson passed away on November 2, 1992. His hometown of Benicia, California, created a park in his memory.

Where to See His Art

Arneson's art is famous worldwide. You can find his sculptures in many public and private collections. Some places include:

• The Art Institute of Chicago
• The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, DC (where his "Elvis" bust is)
• The Honolulu Museum of Art
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City
• The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
• The Smithsonian American Art Museum
• The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City

The Nelson Gallery at UC Davis, where Arneson taught, owns 70 of his artworks. This includes The Palace at 10am, a large sculpture of his former home. It is considered one of his most famous pieces.

Family Life

Robert Arneson was married twice. His first marriage was to Jeanette Frank Jensen from 1955 to 1972. They had four sons together.

His second wife was artist Sandra Lynne Shannonhouse. They were married from 1973 until his death in 1992. They had one daughter, Tenaya Arneson.