Jeff Koons (born 1955) is a renowned American contemporary artist known for his provocative and often controversial works that blur the boundaries between high and popular culture. Koons studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and later worked on Wall Street before dedicating himself to art. His oeuvre spans a variety of media, including sculpture, painting, and installations, and is characterized by his meticulous craftsmanship and the use of banal and kitsch subjects. Koons rose to prominence in the 1980s with his "Banality" series, featuring sculptures like "Michael Jackson and Bubbles" and "Puppy," and later became known for his oversized, reflective balloon animal sculptures. His work often prompts discussions about consumerism, celebrity culture, and the nature of art itself.

 

Jeff Koons' art has been exhibited in major museums and institutions worldwide, solidifying his status as one of the most influential contemporary artists. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris have hosted retrospectives of his career. Koons' monumental sculptures, including "Balloon Dog (Orange)," have been featured in prominent public spaces, such as Rockefeller Center in New York and the Palace of Versailles in France. His work is also part of the collections at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, the Tate Modern in London, and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, among others, highlighting the global recognition and impact of his provocative and thought-provoking art.