California

Peter VandenBerge is one of Northern California's most important ceramic sculptors. His large ceramic busts bear a resemblance to the well-known "heads" from Easter Island, with elongated features and a mysterious tribal feel. Thin and elongated, they show obvious sources of inspiration from Amedeo Modigliani and Alberto Giacometti. Most of VandenBerge's pieces are hand built in the coil method of clay construction with earth-toned underglazes and bright colorful finishes.

Born in Holland and trained in the United States, Peter has enjoyed a successful career that spans over thirty years. He received his B.A. from CSU, Sacramento in 1959 and his M.A. from UC Davis in 1963. VandenBerge has taught classes at State University of New York, College of Ceramics at Alfred University, University of Washington, Seattle, and California State University, Sacramento. His work has been exhibited at the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento; San Francisco M.O.M.A; Smithsonian Institute, Washington D.C.; Oakland Art Museum; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; and many others. VandenBerge was also included in a traveling exhibition from the Museum of Decorative Arts, featured in the Louvre, Paris and other major cities.