Porcelain with chromatic coating - Incised signature, edition number, title and date on the underside.
Jeff Koons' Balloon Swan (Magenta) (2019) is a porcelain sculpture with a vibrant chromatic coating, exemplifying his playful transformation of everyday objects into fine art. Standing at 24 cm tall, the sculpture emulates the form of a swan created from a balloon, capturing a sense of lightness and fragility, despite its solid porcelain structure. The glossy, reflective surface and bright magenta color evoke a sense of whimsy and nostalgia, reminiscent of childhood balloon animals, while also showcasing Koons' mastery of illusion and craftsmanship. Part of his balloon animal series, this work blurs the line between high art and kitsch, making a statement on consumer culture and the nature of art itself.
Jeff Koons (USA, 1955) is a globally recognized contemporary artist known for his large-scale sculptures and works that merge pop culture with fine art. His iconic pieces, like the 'Balloon Dog' series, employ industrial materials and high-gloss finishes, challenging ideas of consumerism, taste, and art’s accessibility.
Porcelain Porcelain is a hard, durable material made from clay, primarily composed of the mineral kaolinite. It is fired at high temperatures, resulting in a fine, white, and often translucent finish. Porcelain is used to create art objects and a wide range of household items such as dishes and bowls. Porcelain items are especially popular for painting with special glazes due to their smooth surface and ability to hold intricate designs.
Porcelain with chromatic coating - Incised signature, edition number, title and date on the underside.
Jeff Koons' Balloon Swan (Magenta) (2019) is a porcelain sculpture with a vibrant chromatic coating, exemplifying his playful transformation of everyday objects into fine art. Standing at 24 cm tall, the sculpture emulates the form of a swan created from a balloon, capturing a sense of lightness and fragility, despite its solid porcelain structure. The glossy, reflective surface and bright magenta color evoke a sense of whimsy and nostalgia, reminiscent of childhood balloon animals, while also showcasing Koons' mastery of illusion and craftsmanship. Part of his balloon animal series, this work blurs the line between high art and kitsch, making a statement on consumer culture and the nature of art itself.
Jeff Koons (USA, 1955) is a globally recognized contemporary artist known for his large-scale sculptures and works that merge pop culture with fine art. His iconic pieces, like the 'Balloon Dog' series, employ industrial materials and high-gloss finishes, challenging ideas of consumerism, taste, and art’s accessibility.
Art was something I could do better. It gave me a sense of self.
- Jeff Koons
Highly acclaimed for his works pertaining to popular culture, Jeff Koons is a contemporary artist best known for his kitschy sculptures, created in stainless steel and often finished with a shiny, mirror-like surface as evidenced in one of his most popular works, Rabbit. Koons’ appropriation of popular consumer objects is driven by his desire to create inclusive art, he has previously explained “I try to create work that doesn’t make viewers feel they are being spoken down to, so they feel open participation”. As a sculptor, Koons has employed a number of materials including wood, gold-leaf, porcelain, and flowers – Puppy, a 43ft tall sculpture comprised of stainless steel, was finished with a surface of various flowers such as Petunias, Begonias and Marigolds, all of which would grow for the exact amount of time that the work was exhibited. Koons drew much influence for his art from his time studying in Chicago, he was particularly inspired by the works of Chicagoan artists Ed Paschke and Jim Nutt. (Artist website)
Hyperrealism is a genre of sculpture and painting that closely resembles high-resolution photographs. It is an evolution of Photorealism and is often applied to an independent art style or movement that became prominent in Europe and the United States in the early 2000s. Hyperrealist artists focus on extreme detail and precision, creating works that are often indistinguishable from real-life images.