Jeff Koons

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Jeff Koons

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Basic data
Art For Sale
Biography
Exhibitions
Awards
Films
Literature
Own writings
Collections
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Basic data

Jeff Koons is considered one of the most important and controversial artists in contemporary art. With his large-scale, glossy sculptures and his exploration of consumer culture and popular culture, he has had a lasting impact on the art world. His works are both celebrated and critically discussed and regularly achieve record prices at auctions.

Name: Jeff Koons
Date of birth: January 21, 1955
Place of birth: York, Pennsylvania, USA
Nationality: American
Art style: Pop Art, Conceptual Art, Neo-Pop, Appropriation Art
Known works: “Balloon Dog”, “Rabbit”, “Michael Jackson and Bubbles”
Techniques: Sculpture, installation, painting, mixed media
Influences: Marcel Duchamp, Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, consumer culture
Similar artists: Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Takashi Murakami, Alex Katz, Roy Lichtenstein
Exhibitions: International solo exhibitions in renowned museums such as the Whitney Museum of American Art, Centre Pompidou, Guggenheim Museum and MoMA
Special features: He combines everyday elements with luxurious materials and questions the boundaries between art and commerce with his works. His sculptures, often made of stainless steel and with a reflective surface, symbolize the connection between mass culture and high-end art.

Jeff Koons has revolutionized the art world with his provocative and media-savvy approach. His work leaves a lasting impression on contemporary art and inspires debates about the value and meaning of art in today's society.

Jeff Koons Art For Sale

Jeff Koons Original Exhibition Poster Ushering in Banality Poster Print Framed

Price: $265

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Biography

Childhood & youth

Jeff Koons was born on January 21, 1955 in York, Pennsylvania, USA. He showed an interest in art from an early age, inspired by his father, who worked as an interior designer and in whose store Koons was often allowed to help out. These early experiences with design and aesthetic creation shaped his understanding of form and materiality. During his school years, Koons began to create his own works of art and admired artists such as Salvador Dalí, whom he later met in person - a formative experience.

After graduating from high school, Koons studied painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore and at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Even during this time, he experimented with different styles and media before moving to New York City in 1976 to begin a career as an artist.

Early career and the “Inflatables” series

After moving to New York, Koons initially worked at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) to keep his head above water financially. At the same time, he began his first series of works, the “Inflatables”. These works, consisting of inflatable toys in combination with mirrors, explore themes such as consumer culture, mass production and kitsch - themes that become central aspects of his art.

In the early 1980s, Koons became known on the art scene for his works. With his series The New, he presented household appliances such as vacuum cleaners and polishing machines, which he displayed in Plexiglas showcases. These works, inspired by Marcel Duchamp's concept of the readymade, question the boundaries between art and everyday life.

Breakthrough with “Banality” and provocation

In 1988, Koons attracted international attention with his Banality series. These works, including sculptures such as Michael Jackson and Bubbles, are made of gold-plated porcelain and address the interface between pop culture and high art. The series polarizes: While some critics dismiss the works as superfluous and kitschy, others celebrate their provocative take on mass taste.

Another controversial milestone is the series Made in Heaven (1990-1991), in which Koons shows explicit erotic depictions of himself and his wife at the time, the Italian porn actress Ilona Staller (known as La Cicciolina). These works sparked heated debates about morality, art and voyeurism.

International recognition and the “Celebration” series

In the late 1990s, Koons finally achieved the status of a global art star. His Celebration series includes large-scale, highly polished sculptures such as Balloon Dog and Tulips. These works, made of stainless steel and with a flawlessly reflective surface, celebrate the aesthetics of the everyday and childhood memories. They became icons of contemporary art and achieved record prices at auctions.

Koons developed a unique production method during this phase, employing a large team of assistants to realize his complex works according to precise specifications. This approach, which is reminiscent of a factory, is often compared to Andy Warhol's “Factory”.

Late years: Monumental works and social influence

In the 2000s, Koons created increasingly monumental works, including Puppy, a huge sculpture made of flowers that was installed in front of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. These works reflect his ambition to create artworks that are both accessible and impressive. Koons continues his collaborations with major museums and brands, including Louis Vuitton, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most successful artists of his time.

Despite criticism, Koons remains a defining figure in the art world, continually sparking debate about the value of art and the role of the artist in a commercialized society.

Legacy

Jeff Koons is considered one of the most influential and controversial artists of our time. Combining consumer culture, popular culture and high-gloss aesthetics, he has redefined the boundaries of contemporary art. His works are represented in major museums and collections worldwide and he remains a central figure in the debate about what constitutes art in the 21st century.

Exhibitions

18.12.2023 – 17.03.2024 The Milton and Sheila Fine Collection – Carnegie Museum of Art (CMOA), Pittsburg.
19.06.2023 – 30.10.2023 Dream Machines – Deste Foundation, Nea Ionia.
12.05.2023 – 15.06.2023 American Portraiture: Selling The Self – Morgan Presents, New York City.
21.06.2022 – 31.10.2023 JEFF KOONS: APOLLO - Deste Foundation, New Ionia.
10.06.2022 – 09.10.2022 Balance - Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart, Berlin.
09.04.2022 – 11.09.2022 Jeff Koons×Bernardaud – 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa.
22.06.2021 – 31.10.2021 THE GREEK GIFT - Deste Foundation, New Ionia.
20.05.2021 – 17.10.2021 The Imaginary Sea - Fondation Carmignac, Hyères.

Awards

2023: Premio Galileo 2000 Award, Palazzo Vecchio Florence, Italy.
2021: Prize „Renaissance Man of the Year“, Palazzo Strozzi Foundation USA, Florence, Italy.
2014: Academy of Achievement’s Golden Plate Award, 51st Annual International Achievement Summit, San Francisco.
2012: State Department's Medal of Arts, Art in Embassies, Washington D.C.
2011: Voice of Art Award, FEGS, New York, New York.
2011: Artist Icon Award in the Arts, The Bruce Museum, Greenwich, Connecticut.
2009: Prize for best "Exhibition Outside the United States", Rob Pruitt's First Annual.
2009: Maryland Institute College of Art Alumni Medal of Honor, Baltimore, Maryland.

Films

The Jeff Koons Show, Documentary, Alison Chernick, 49 min, UK 2004.
Jeff Koons – un homme de confiance, Documentary, Judit Kele, 57 min, France 2002.

Literature

Jeff Koons. Der Künstler als Täufer, Raphael Bouvier, Munich 2012.
Jeff Koons, Hans Werner Holzwarth (Hrsg.), Ingrid Sischy, Eckhard Schneider, Katy Siegel, Jeff Koons, Cologne 2009.
Jeff Koons. Popeye Series, Kathryn Rattee, Cologne 2009.
Jeff Koons. Celebration, Anette Hüsch, Ostfildern 2008.
Kunst als Sündenfall. Die Tabuverletzungen des Jeff Koons, Thomas Zaunschirm, Freiburg im Breisgau 1996.
Jeff Koons, Angelika Muthesius, Cologne 1992.