Sheldon Kaganoff

1933 Born, New York, New York

EDUCATION

1952-1953 California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California

1959 BA Philosophy, Pomona College, Claremont, California

1961 MFA Ceramics, Claremont Graduate School, Claremont, California

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

1954-1957 United States Army

1961-1962 Pottery Studio, San Rafael, California

1962 General Assistant, Heath Ceramics, Sausalito, California

1962-1965 Lecturer, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, Scotland

1965- 1994 Associate Professor of Art, University of California, Santa Barbara, California

1994— Emeritus Professor of Art, University of California, Santa Barbara, California

1968— Studio Artist, Ceramics and Works on Paper

Sheldon Kaganoff is best known for his large scale thrown vessels made of stoneware or porcelain. His large scale vessels have an expressive and gestural quality as he uses varied mark making, textures, and glaze palettes upon the surface of his forms that can tower at 6’ high. Beginning in 1984 he began expeimenting with luster glazes.

Kaganoff sites “sensory awareness, Gestalt and Zen Buddhism” to be direct influences of his style. His work is often titled to expand the content of his vessels, including titles: “Self Portrait”, “Erosion Series”, that evoke a self awareness and an interest in the natural world.