Balloon Dog
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| Balloon Dog | |
|---|---|
_by_Jeff_Koons,_The_Broad.jpg) Balloon Dog (Blue) at The Broad in Los Angeles, California, 2022 | |
| Artist | Jeff Koons |
| Year | 1994–2000 |
Balloon Dog is a series of sculptures by the American artist Jeff Koons. There are different versions of this sculpture, made between 1994 and 2000, with each having a different color: blue, magenta, yellow, orange and red.[1][2]
Background and concept[edit]
Balloon Dog is part of Koons' Celebration series of artworks and is one of many sculptures inspired by inflatable characters, including Balloon Swan (2004–2011),[3] Balloon Rabbit (2005–2010), and Balloon Monkey (2006-2013).[4] Koons said about the series, "I've always enjoyed balloon animals because they're like us ... We're balloons. You take a breath and you inhale, it's an optimism. You exhale, and it's kind of a symbol of death".[5]
Variants[edit]
The Broad contemporary art museum in Los Angeles has a copy of Balloon Dog (Blue).[6]
In 2013, Balloon Dog (Orange) sold at Christie's for $58.4 million.[7] As of 2023, it is the fourth most expensive work sold by a living artist at auction.
On February 19, 2023, a small 16 in (41 cm) copy worth $42,000, one of a limited edition of 799, was destroyed by a woman visiting the Art Wynwood art fair in Miami, Florida. She was observed tapping the object with her index finger, causing it to topple over and shatter. The limited edition in Limoges porcelain was produced by the French company Bernardaud.[8]
In popular culture[edit]
In the video game Grand Theft Auto Online, developers released Yellow Dog with Cone, a derivative piece of virtual art inspired by Balloon Dog. Yellow Dog with Cone is available for purchase by players in-game and quickly rose in popularity among fans.[9]
In the 2023 film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, a rendering of the Balloon Dog (Blue) is prominently featured in a scene set in the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.[10][11] In response, Koons said he was "thrilled" to be a part of the film.[12]
See also[edit]
- Rabbit, 1986, a series of three identical sculptures by Koons; one of which is the most expensive work sold by a living artist at auction
References[edit]
- ^ "Jeff Koons Artwork: Balloon Dog". Jeff Koons. Archived from the original on 2022-07-09. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
- ^ "Jeff Koons on Reimagining His Famed 'Balloon Dog' in Porcelain: 'We Are Balloons Ourselves'". ARTnews.com. 2021-11-15. Archived from the original on 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
- ^ "Sexy contemporary antiquities". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "Jeff Koons: New Paintings and Sculpture, 555 West 24th Street, New York, May 9 – June 29, 2013". Gagosian. April 12, 2018. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "6 Jeff Koons Sculptures That Have Helped Define His Pop Culture-Inspired Career". My Modern Met. 2020-09-13. Archived from the original on 2023-02-24. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
- ^ "Balloon Dog (Blue) - Jeff Koons | The Broad". www.thebroad.org. Archived from the original on 2021-11-01. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
- ^ Stanska, Zuzanna (2021-11-07). "Jeff Koons and His Balloon Dogs". DailyArt Magazine. Archived from the original on 2022-06-12. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
- ^ Wertheimer, Tiffany (19 February 2023). "Jeff Koons: Visitor breaks iconic Balloon Dog sculpture in Miami". BBC News. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ "Finally, You Can Purchase The "Yellow Dog With Cone" Statue In GTA Online". Kotaku. 2019-08-03. Archived from the original on 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
- ^ "Across the Koons-verse: artist's balloon animals make cameo in new Spider-Man film". The Art Newspaper. 2023-06-09. Archived from the original on 2023-07-08. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
- ^ Butkovic, Leanne (2023-06-07). "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Has Some Things to Say About Art". IGN. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
- ^ "@JeffKoons". Twitter. Archived from the original on 2023-07-08. Retrieved 2023-07-08.