15 things to know about Jeff Koons

This exhibition, organized by the Centre Pompidou, is the first major exhibition in Europe for the artist. It is made up of sculptures, paintings and installations gathered from around the world. Following a chronological path, you can follow and understand Jeff Koons’ artistic evolution, from his first work created out of the legacy of Pop Art to his present works, which are a renewal of contemporary art. This provides an opportunity for Artsper to return to this controversial artist. Jeff Koons, genius or impostor?

1.

Jeff Koons is a former broker on the Wall Street stock market in New York.

#2

Jeff Koons admits that he does not produce any of his works himself. For this he employs a team of more than 100 assistants based in Chelsea, near New York, who produce the custom designs of the “creative genius”.

#3

From his earliest days with his first rabbit in stainless steel (1986), Jeff Koons’ art may be viewed as a meeting point between different artistic movements: the pop art of Andy Warhol, the ready-mades of Marcel Duchamp and the over-sized objects of Claes Oldenburg. These days, his style could be regarded as Neo Pop.

#4

He uses popular consumer items (appliances, basketballs, aquarium, etc.) and tries to raise them to the level of art.

#5

He was married to the Italian porn star Ilona Staller Anna, known as Cicciolina. Together they created provocative works that made them famous.

#6

Often abused by critics, Jeff Koons still remains the most famous contemporary artist in the world. His works sell for millions of dollars in auctions and each year they set new records.

#7

In 2008 the artist, who is considered very avant-garde and provocative, held an exhibition in the rooms and gardens of Versailles. This set teeth grinding among those attached to the classical and historical image of Louis XIV’s residence.

#8

This year, the Pompidou Centre is organizing the first retrospective of the artist in Europe, tracing 35 years of his artistic career.

#9

Jeff Koons’ favourite objects are undoubtedly toys and all the iconography related to the world of childhood.

#10

He is now married to Justine Wheeler-Koons, a South African artist and a former employee in his workshop. They have four children together.

#11

He created the cover for Lady Gaga’s fourth album, Artpop , unveiled Oct. 7th, 2013.

#12

In June 2014, on the occasion of the opening of a new store in New York, H & M and Jeff Koons created an art-fashion partnership. A limited-edition leather bag in black and the colours of his iconic Balloon Dog was put on sale to mark the occasion.

#13

Despite the apparent simplicity of his works, the production time for a work by Jeff Koons is huge. The production time of a sculpture is about three years.

#14

Jeff Koons uses various artistic techniques: installation, photography, painting and sculpture in all materials (wood, marble, glass, stainless steel) right up to computer-assisted creation his favourite technique for paintings, which are then shaped onto canvas by his assistants.