Balloon Monkey (Orange)
2019
glazed porcelain
25 x 21 x 39 cm
Ed: 361/999
Balloon Rabbit (Violet)
2019
glazed porcelain
29 x 14 x 21 cm
Ed: 371/999
Balloon Swan (Magenta)
2019
glazed porcelain
24 x 16 x 21 cm
Ed: 254/999
Estimate: €80,000 – 95,000
Record: $91,1 million
Jeff Koons is one of the most influential figures in Pop Art, whose works continue to spark debate worldwide. Balloon Swan, Balloon Rabbit, and Balloon Monkey are some of his signature sculptures that achieved iconic status in contemporary art. The artworks, created in 2019 in an intimate scale and with a high-gloss finish, follow the artist’s famed Celebration series.
The artworks resemble the appearance of inflated balloon animals rendered in chromatically coated porcelain. Inspired by childhood toys and party traditions, the artist created each piece with his characteristic precision. Koons is renowned for using mirror-like reflecting surfaces, which engage the viewer by incorporating their surroundings into the artwork. He invites personal connection and participation, transforming viewing into an integral part of the artistic experience.
The sculptures engage with themes of innocence, joy, and spectacle, as well as mass production, desire, and the commodification of beauty. By choosing familiar, even banal imagery and elevating it to sculptural icons, Koons continues to redefine contemporary art. The series, while playful on the surface, is a deliberate commentary on cultural values that challenges the traditional role of the artist and the conventions of fine art.
Jeff Koons (b. 1955) is a globally recognized American artist known for his work in sculpture and painting. He gained prominence in the 1980s, becoming known for blurring the lines between commerce and art. Among his most significant exhibitions is his 2014 retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art, which later travelled to the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Guggenheim Bilbao. His works have been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions at major institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Tate Modern in London, and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. In 2019, his sculpture Rabbit was sold for $91.1 million at Christie’s in New York, making him one of the most expensive contemporary artists in the world.
