The busts in his nuclear series, which often show the grisly results of a nuclear holocaust cause the reader to look inside themselves and confront their own ideas about mortality and spirituality, and there is something very moving about these works, but they are very disturbing, as well. Arneson's work might not be considered spiritual, and yet, there is something very touching and special about some of his works. His works make viewers think about history, about their own lives, and even the politics of the world around them. That makes them look inside themselves, too, just as Arneson did when he created his self-portraits. This ability to create whimsical and yet touching works is something Arneson mastered completely, and that helps give his work a spirituality and meaning that is far greater than most ceramic pieces can ever hope to accomplish.

References

Editors. "Robert Arneson's Eggheads."...

2008. 18 March 2008. http://eggheads.ucdavis.edu/
Editors. "The Art of Robert Arneson." Verisimilitudo.com.1992. 18 March 2008. http://www.verisimilitudo.com/arneson/

Lauria, Jo and Adkins, Gretchen. Color and Fire: Defining Moments in Studio Ceramics, 1950-2000. Los Angeles: LACMA; Rizzoli International Publications, 2000.

Natsoulas, John. "Robert Arneson." John Natsoulas Gallery. 2007. 18 March 2008. http://www.natsoulas.com/html/artists/robertArneson/robertArneson.html

Peterson, Susan. "Ceramics in the West." Color and Fire: Defining Moments in Studio Ceramics, 1950-2000. Los Angeles: LACMA; Rizzoli International Publications, 2000. 86-121.

Sintetos, Mike. "Robert Arneson: The Eggheads Artist Used Humor to Present Serious Ideas." University of California at Davis. 2008. 18 March 2008. http://eggheads.ucdavis.edu/arneson.html