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Overview
"I've always enjoyed feeling a connection to the avant-garde, such as Dada and surrealism and pop art. The only thing the artist can do is be honest with themselves and make the art they want to make. That's what I've always done."
Jeff Koons was born in York, Pennsylvania in 1955. He studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He received a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 1976. Koons lives and works in New York City.
Since his first solo exhibition in 1980, Koons’s work has been shown in major galleries and institutions throughout the world. His Celebration sculptures were the subject of exhibitions on the rooftop of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and at the Neue National galerie in Berlin. Château de Versailles opened its doors to a living artist for the first time with Jeff Koons: Versailles, where a selection of his work were presented within the Grand Apartments. The Whitney Museum of American Art presented the most comprehensive survey of Koons’s career to date in 2014, Jeff Koons: A Retrospective (June 27 through October 19, 2014). This exhibition went on tour and was on view at the Pompidou Centre Paris (November 26, 2014 through April 27, 2015), and will travel on to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (June 9 through September 27, 2015).
Koons earned renown for his public sculptures, such as the monumental floral sculpture Puppy (1992), shown at Rockefeller Center and permanently installed at the Guggenheim Bilbao. Another floral sculpture, Split-Rocker (2000), previously installed at the Papal Palace in Avignon, Château de Versailles, and Fondation Beyeler Basel, wason view at Rockefeller Center .
Jeff Koons has received numerous awards and honors in recognition of his cultural achievements. Notably, Koons received the Governor’s Awards for the Arts “Distinguished Arts Award” from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts; the “Golden Plate Award” from the Academy of Achievement; President Jacques Chirac promoted Koons to Officier de la Legion d’Honneur; and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton honored Koons with the State Department’s Medal of the Arts for his outstanding commitment to the Art in Embassies Program and international cultural exchange. Koons has been a board member of The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) since 2002, and co-founded the Koons Family International Law and Policy Institute with ICMEC; for the purpose of combating global issues of child abduction and exploitation and to protect the world’s children.
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Selected Works by Jeff Koons
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Series
Jeff Koons
Balloon Rabbit (Violet), 2019Porcelain with chromatic coating11 3/8 x 5 1/2 x 8 1/4 in
29 x 14 x 21 cmEdition of 999Series: Balloon AnimalsCopyright The ArtistJeff Koons' Balloon Rabbit sculpture is a striking example of contemporary art that blurs the lines between high and low culture, playfulness, and sophistication. Created in 1986, this stainless steel...Jeff Koons' Balloon Rabbit sculpture is a striking example of contemporary art that blurs the lines between high and low culture, playfulness, and sophistication. Created in 1986, this stainless steel sculpture is part of Koons' larger series known as Celebration, which explores themes of childhood, consumerism, and the American Dream.
The Balloon Rabbit sculpture is meticulously crafted to resemble a large balloon animal, capturing the ephemeral and whimsical nature of balloon art in a durable, permanent form. Despite its seemingly light and fragile appearance, the sculpture is made of reflective stainless steel, giving it a polished and futuristic aesthetic. This juxtaposition of fragility and permanence challenges viewers to reconsider their perceptions of value and materiality.
One of the most striking aspects of the Balloon Rabbit is its scale. Standing at over three feet tall, the sculpture commands attention and invites viewers to interact with it on a physical and emotional level. Its larger-than-life size amplifies the sense of wonder and awe, evoking memories of childhood innocence and play.
Koons' choice of subject matter, a balloon animal rabbit, further adds to the sculpture's charm and accessibility. Balloon animals are a ubiquitous and beloved part of popular culture, often associated with birthday parties, carnivals, and street performers. By elevating this ephemeral form into a monumental sculpture, Koons invites viewers to reconsider the boundaries between art and everyday life.
The Balloon Rabbit sculpture has garnered widespread acclaim for its technical skill, conceptual depth, and visual impact. It has become one of Koons' most iconic and recognizable works, symbolizing his ability to transform ordinary objects into extraordinary art. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the sculpture serves as a commentary on the fleeting nature of happiness and the pursuit of perfection in contemporary society.
Today, the Balloon Rabbit continues to captivate audiences around the world, transcending cultural boundaries and sparking conversations about the nature of art, commerce, and popular culture. Its timeless appeal and universal themes ensure that it remains a cherished and celebrated masterpiece in the realm of contemporary art.
