An exhibit exploring the relationship between ceramics and sensuality opens Sunday, Sept. 22, in the College of Creative Arts' Fine Art Gallery.

The exhibit, titled "The Erotic Life of Clay," features two shows in one: "Sexpots" and "Jun Kaneko: On the Edge and in the Round." In both shows, artists make the case for ceramics as a form of fine art, and use clay to explore the erotic.

"The exhibition is important as a contemporary, conceptual snapshot of some of the most exciting new work in ceramics," said Mark Johnson, director and curator of the Fine Arts Gallery.

"Because the contemporary work can be seen within a context of ancient and regional works, the viewer will gain an appreciation of the continuity of concerns in this medium, which dates back to prehistoric times," he said.

"Sexpots" includes narrative and abstract representations by several artists, including Bay Area residents Ann Agee, Robert Arneson, Breon Dunigan, John DeFazio, Viola Frey, Anne Davis Mulford, Ron Nagle, Ken Price, J. John Priola, Richard Shaw, Martin Wong and Beatrice Wood.

Kaneko, a Japanese-born artist, will exhibit several dangos, large pillow-like ceramic structures on which he places a graphic element. He'll also show several ceramic wall slabs.

The exhibit opening will include a lecture by Catherine Hess, associate curator of sculpture at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles and Paul Mathieu, professor of ceramics at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design in Vancouver, B.C. The lecture begins at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, in the August Coppola Theater in the Fine Arts Building. The lecture is followed by a reception at 2 p.m. in the Fine Arts Gallery which is also in the Fine Arts Building. Admission to both events is free.

The exhibit runs through October 17. Admission is free. The Fine Arts Gallery is open noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.