“I don’t seek to make consumer icons, but to decode why and how consumer objects are glorified…The more people seek these things, the more they are lost in the seductive glitter, and reflectivity of everything that is luxury. It moves from an abstraction of sexuality to the dizzying heights of pure abstraction.” – Jeff Koons
Jeff Koons is undoubtedly one of America’s most popular and famed contemporary artists. Many would immediately recognise his bold, outsized sculptures which have been installed in public places in New York, Washington, Bilbao and Sydney. In his work, Koons employs familiar motifs to challenge perceptions of what constitutes art. He works in a large scale studio with many assistants, a factory-like setup that has often been likened to that of Andy Warhol. Koons divides critics, with some seeing his work as kitsch, while others consider his practice of significant art historical importance. Works by Jeff Koons regularly sell for record sums, and in 2013 a record was set for ‘Balloon Dog’,which sold for US $58 million, at the time making it the most expensive work of art by a living artist. Koons has claimed that there is no hidden meaning to his work, simply aiming for it to be relatable to audiences, having said: “I try to create work that doesn’t make viewers feel they’re being spoken down to, so they feel open participation.” Jeff Koons was born 1955 in York, Pennsylvania, and currently lives in New York and Pennsylvania
Jeff Koons, GOAT (Champ’s Edition)
© Jeff Koons
