Jeff Koons — Master of Pop and Contemporary Iconography

Jeff Koons (b. 1955, York, Pennsylvania) is one of the most influential and widely recognized contemporary artists of the past half-century. Known for his monumental sculptures, brilliant surfaces, and reimagining of everyday objects, Koons has redefined the relationship between pop culture, high art, and global visual iconography. He studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, receiving his BFA in 1976, and has lived and worked in New York City since the late 1970s.

Koons emerged on the international stage in the 1980s with works that re-envisioned kitsch objects, such as vacuum cleaners, porcelain figurines, inflatable toys as sites of cultural desire and psychological projection. Since his first solo exhibition in 1980, his work has been presented at major museums and institutions worldwide. A landmark career retrospective, Jeff Koons: A Retrospective, was organized by the Whitney Museum of American Art in 2014 and traveled to the Centre Pompidou, Paris, and the Guggenheim Bilbao. More recent presentations include Shine at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence; Lost in America in Doha; and Apollo at the Slaughterhouse, DESTE Foundation Project Space, Hydra. In 2023, Koons unveiled Dugong (2020–2022) along the Corniche in Doha, expanding his legacy of high-profile public installations.

Koons is best known for his iconic sculptures Rabbit (1986) and Balloon Dog, as well as his towering floral installation Puppy (1992) that was shown at Rockefeller Center and now permanently installed at the Guggenheim Bilbao. His monumental Split-Rocker (2000) has been exhibited at the Papal Palace in Avignon, Château de Versailles, Fondation Beyeler in Basel, and Rockefeller Center.

While we do not currently have works by this artist in inventory, we offer sourcing services for blue-chip artworks and can assist with acquisition opportunities upon request.

A recipient of numerous awards and honors, Koons has been recognized internationally for his artistic innovation and cultural impact. His distinctions include honorary degrees from the Corcoran in Washington, D.C. (2002), the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2008), and York College of Pennsylvania (2017). He has been awarded the Pennsylvania Governor’s Awards for the Arts, promoted to Officier de la Légion d’Honneur by President Jacques Chirac, honored with the U.S. State Department’s Medal of Arts, and recognized for significant contributions to cultural diplomacy. Beyond his artistic practice, Koons has served on the board of The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) since 2002 and co-founded the Koons Family International Law and Policy Institute.

Koons’ work is highly sought after by leading collectors worldwide, including Dakis Joannou, Peter Brant, François Pinault, and Eli Broad. His sculptures and paintings are held in major museum collections across Europe, Asia, and the United States and remain touchstones of contemporary art.

Explore Jeff Koons at DTR Modern Galleries

As a premier destination for modern and contemporary art, DTR Modern Galleries proudly offers works by Jeff Koons, one of the most important living artists shaping global visual culture. Collect Koons’ celebrated editions and sculptures across our gallery locations in New York City, Boston, Palm Beach, and Washington, D.C.