1935Born The Hague, Netherlands

EDUCATION

1954-1957Bakersfield Junior College, Bakersfield, California

1959 Art Academy, The Hague, Netherlands

1959 BA California State University, Sacramento, California

1960-1962 Sacramento State College, Sacramento, California

1963 MA University of California, Davis, California

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

1966-1973Instructor, California State University, San Francisco, California

1973-2003Professor, California State University, Sacramento, California

1972 Instructor, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

1975 Instructor, New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred University, Alfred, New York

1998 Professor of Art Emeritus, California State University, Sacramento, California

Peter VandenBerge is known for larger-than-life elongated busts and figures. The rough surfaces are often carved, dug into, scraped and painted with underglaze and stains applied with brushes, sponges, and knives.

VandenBerg began developing these iconic sculptures while teaching at Alfred University (1975). They evolved from earlier vegetable forms, the first of these were containers for food which gradually took on human features. Initially, he built these forms by stacking wheel-thrown and manipulated cylinders. Eventually, he built the figures using coils which allowed for more careful detailing. The coils are often visible.  The portrait busts often carry an unusual object on their heads, including houses, cars, boats, numerous different animals or simply a hat.

Peter VandenBerge settled in California after moving to the United States from the Netherlands in 1954. While at Sacramento State College he became aware of the work of Robert Arneson and transferred to the University of California at Davis to work with Arneson. VandenBerge worked with Arneson to develop the non-explosive, noncracking whiteware clay that he, Arneson, and others used in making much of what is known as Funk Ceramics.

When speaking of his inspirations VandenBerge says, “Much of the sources for my work are from past personal experiences, many arising from childhood, that hopefully will find a sculptural form, most often figurative and interwoven with all the technical and aesthetic considerations of the clay medium.”[1]

[1] Peter VandenBerge, “Statement.” John Natsoulas Gallery. Davis, California, November 10, 2018, 5:30PM