A 1978 inflatable rabbit of various heights and colors marked an early stage in the career of Jeff Koons, who would later achieve record-breaking auction results for his stainless steel sculptures. Born in York, Pennsylvania, in 1955, he developed an artistic practice rooted in consumerism and the aesthetics of mass-produced objects, transitioning from conceptual photography to large-scale art fabrication.
Professional Beginnings and Finance
After transferring from the Maryland Institute College of Art to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1975, Koons worked as a studio assistant for Ed Paschke. Upon moving to New York City in 1977, he secured employment at the Museum of Modern Art membership desk. Seeking financial stability, he obtained a license to sell mutual funds and stocks in 1980, working as a commodities broker at First Investors Corporation, Clayton Brokerage Company, and Smith Barney.
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Take the IQ test →The Evolution of Series-Based Work
Koons transitioned into his own artistic output by grouping pieces into specific series. His 'Pre-New' and 'The New' projects featured domestic objects and vacuum cleaners encased in illuminated Perspex boxes. By 1983, he explored physics with the 'Equilibrium' series, which involved basketballs suspended in tanks of distilled water. These projects involved technical consultation with physicist Richard Feynman and incorporated displays of Nike-branded advertisements alongside bronze sculptures of lifesaving equipment.
Production Methods and Studio Operations
To achieve consistent aesthetic results across his canvases and sculptures, Koons adopted a system of art fabrication similar to Andy Warhol's factory model. Operating from a large studio in SoHo and later a facility in Chelsea, he managed teams of assistants to execute works based on computer-generated references. This standardized approach relied on a color-by-numbers system designed to ensure that every object appeared as if it were finished by a single hand.
Fast facts
- Born: 1955, York, Pennsylvania
- Citizenship: United States
- Education: Maryland Institute College of Art; School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Notable Works: Kiepenkerl, Puppy, Balloon Dog (Blue), Balloon Dog (Magenta), Rabbit, Vacuum
- Awards: Berliner Bär (2001)
- Memberships: Royal Academy of Arts, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Movements: Postmodernism, pop art, Minimalism, conceptual art
Questions readers ask
What is the basis of his art fabrication method?
He uses computer-generated references and a color-by-numbers system to ensure consistency across works produced by assistants.
Did Koons have a career outside of the art world?
Yes, he worked as a licensed commodities broker on Wall Street in the early 1980s.
Achievements
- Notable work: Balloon Dog (Blue)
- Notable work: Balloon Dog (Magenta)
- Notable work: Kiepenkerl
- Notable work: Puppy
- Movement: pop art and Postmodernism
