Photo: Bengt Oberger / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Jeff Koons is one of those artists who genuinely divides the room, and honestly, I find that thrilling. Whether you think his giant stainless-steel Balloon Dog is a profound meditation on consumer culture or an overpriced novelty, you can't pretend it doesn't demand your attention — and that's exactly the point. Born in York, Pennsylvania and trained at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he built a whole career out of making "low" subject matter — vacuum cleaners, inflatable toys, tchotchkes — feel monumental and weirdly moving. His Rabbit sculpture sold for over $91 million in 2019, making him the most expensive living artist at the time, which is either a brilliant performance piece in itself or the most Jeff Koons thing Jeff Koons has ever done. I lean toward both. Love him or not, he permanently changed what contemporary sculpture is allowed to be.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Jeff Koons
- Name (Japanese)
- ジェフ・クーンズ
- Reading
- じぇふ・くーんず
- Born
- January 21, 1955 (age 71)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aquarius / Goat
- Origin
- York, Pennsylvania, United States
- Occupation
- sculptor / painter / photographer / installation artist / designer
2. Background
- University
- Maryland Institute College of Art
Awards & achievements
- Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- 2001 Berliner Bär
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Balloon Dog (Blue) | — | |
| Notable work | Balloon Dog (Magenta) | — | |
| Notable work | Kiepenkerl | — | |
| Notable work | Puppy | — | |
| Notable work | Rabbit | — | |
| Notable work | Vaccum (Jeff Koons) | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Jeff Koons born?
Born January 21, 1955 (age 71).
Where is Jeff Koons from?
Jeff Koons is from York, Pennsylvania, United States.
What does Jeff Koons do?
Jeff Koons works as sculptor, painter, photographer, installation artist, designer.
What is Jeff Koons known for?
Notable works include Balloon Dog (Blue), Balloon Dog (Magenta), Kiepenkerl.
Sculptor — see all → · Painter — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.