Jeff Koons, Balloon Dog

Deriving inspiration from everyday items including children’s toys, cartoon characters, porcelain figurines, and party decorations, Koons’ appropriates advertising campaigns and consumer goods alike. In doing so, he initiates a dialogue about the role of material objects in our lives and the consumerism of society as a whole. Many of his pieces look cheap, but are expensive, an ingenious reversal of economic logic that forms the basis for his commercial success. Rather than offending the art snob, Koons has challenged top collectors to revise their notions of what is fine art. Mirrors and highly polished surfaces feature in many of Koons’ works and he favors these for both their flawless finish and the fact that they allow the viewer to see themselves in the artwork. In this manner the viewer becomes part of the piece itself and their changing reflection alters how they encounter the work, making it a very personal experience. Koons’ most famous works to date are his towering sculptures inspired by balloon animals.^[1]

Watch this video to hear Koons talk about the creation and meanings of Balloon Dog.