Haley Ross Project #2 Visual Merchandising October 28, 2014 Jeff Koons Jeff Koons is an American artist born in 1955 in Pennsylvania. He attended the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, but spent his senior year studying at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and working at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Koons is seen as one of the most popular and controversial artists of his era. Koons is best known for his art that transforms everyday objects into works of art, for example “Balloon Dog�. He takes these everyday objects, takes them out of the context of popular culture, and creates a work of art that is aesthetically and intellectually appealing. Through his art, Koons forces us to take a look at ourselves and popular culture. Koons is also famous for his collaboration with Lady Gaga on her album cover for ARTPOP, for which he created a nude sculpture of Gaga sitting behind a blue ball sculpture. Koons also recently unveiled a new work of art that is quickly growing famous: a giant Play Doh sculpture.
I was most inspired by the Pop Art nature of his work, and the “provoke and shock” effect of his work that he is so well-known for. He takes ordinary objects and recreates them on a monstrous scale in vivid colors and the effect is exciting; it is impossible to look away. I also love the fact that his art is so relatable because he draws from pop culture. I think that makes for a great collaboration with a retailer because it will catch consumers’ eyes. The element I was most drawn to was the scale of “Balloon Dog” and the material it is made out of. “Balloon Dog” is so large that immediately grabs your attention. It then continues to grab your attention because of the colorful reflective surface. It is actually made out of stainless steel that is mirror polished and then finished with a colored translucent coating. Bibliography "Jeff Koons." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (October 22, 2014).http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3404703615.html
“Jeff Koons: A Retrospective.” Whitney Museum of American Art. 2014. Whitney.org. (October 22, 2014.) http://whitney.org/Exhibitions/JeffKoons?&artwork_id=691&filter_id=13