Press Release

The New York City Parks Public Art Program presents an
exhibition of Jun Kaneko sculptures on the Park Avenue
Malls from June through November 2008. Three of the
artist’s largest sculptures, each entitled HEAD (2004 to
2007), are installed in the landscaped medians at 52nd,
53rd, and 54th.

Previously exhibited artists are Fernando
Botero (1993), Keith Haring (1997), Jean Dubuffet (2003),
Robert Indiana and Tom Otterness (2003), Bernar Venet
(2004), Deborah Butterfield (2005), Donna Dennis and
Robert Indiana (2007).

Japanese born Jun Kaneko is an internationally renowned
artist based in Omaha, Nebraska since 1986. His artwork
appears in numerous international and national solo and
group exhibitions annually, and is included in more than
seventy museum collections. He has realized over thirty
public art commissions in the United States and Japan
and is the recipient of national, state and organization
fellowships. Kaneko holds honorary doctorates from the
Royal College of Art in London, The University of Nebraska
and the Massachusetts College of Art & Design.
Known for his commitment, energy and focus, Kaneko
works fluently in diverse media and fields in the arts.

In 2003, Opera Omaha commissioned him to design a new
production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, which premiered
in March of 2006 and will continue to tour America and
Canada through 2012. This success led to another
commission by Opera Company of Philadelphia to design
a new production of Beethoven’s opera Fidelio opening
this October.

In 2000, the artist and his wife Ree Kaneko formed a nonprofit
scholarly organization dedicated to the research
and nurturing of creativity in the arts, sciences and
humanities. The KANEKO is located in Omaha, Nebraska
and is scheduled to open in the spring of 2011.
Special thanks to the Grand Central Partnership
and Mission Clay Products.

Major Funding provided by Gebert Contemporary.