Artwork #10: Balloon Dog (Blue)

Artist: Jeff Koons
Title: Balloon Dog (Blue)
Media: Mirror-polished stainless steel with transparent color coating
Dimensions: 307.34 x 363.22 x 114.3 cm
Date: 1994-2000

About the artist: Jeff Koons was born in 1955 in York, Pennsylvania. He studied at the Maryland Institute of Art in Baltimore and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He currently lives in New York City where he continues to create his fun filled art sculptures.

About the art: The Balloon Dog is a part of the Celebration series which was made to honor the hoped-for return of Ludwig from Rome. There are five colors of this piece: Blue, Magenta, Orange, Red, and Yellow. The Orange Balloon Dog sold for a record price of $58.4 million for a living artist.


What people have to say about it: “At a time when collectors are propelling rare master works to new price levels at auction, the sale of Jeff Koons’ Balloon Dog will be a spectacular event for buyers around the world. This is a definitive icon of the 20th century. The Balloon Dog is the Holy Grail for collectors and foundations. In private hands, the work has always communicated the prominence and stature of its owner. Like Andy Warhol’s portrait of Marilyn, which influenced Koons’ choice of the orange metallic color for Balloon Dog, it is the ultimate masterpiece, instantly recognizable to the art world and public alike. To own this work immediately positions the buyer alongside the very top collectors in the world and transforms a collection to an unparalleled level of greatness.” -Brett Gorvy

Why it was chosen: Any child who sees this is going to pull on their mother’s sleeve and say, “Mommy, Mommy, look over there!” Next minute, the mother will have to hang on tight to keep her child from trying to climb the giant Balloon Dog.