Hailed by Peter Schjeldahl in The New Yorker as āthe most original, controversial, and expensive American artist of the past three and a half decades,ā Jeff Koons has come to reign as a master of the market, a wry puppeteer with a āformidable aesthetic intelligence.ā His elaborate, exquisitely produced sculptures draw from a contemporary lexicon of consumerismāoften featuring large-scale reproductions of toys, household items, or luxury goodsāwhile simultaneously holding up a mirror to the very culture from which they are extracted. These references to popular media are evidenced not merely in his choice of subject matter but also in his visual techniques: his sculptures frequently comprise smooth, mirrored surfaces, and his paintings employ bright and saturated colors. Jeff Koons: Gazing Ballāthe first catalogue on the artistās work to be published by David Zwirnerāwas produced on the occasion of the major 2013 exhibition at the gallery in New York, which marked the world debut of his Gazing Ball series, a brand new body of work that occupies an important place in the trajectory of his practice. Conceptually derived from the mirrored ornaments encountered on many suburban lawns, including those of Koonsās childhood hometown in rural Pennsylvania, every sculpture is anchored by a blue āgazing ballā of hand-blown glass. These are situated atop large, white-plaster sculptures that have been alternately modeled after iconic works from the Greco-Roman era, including the Farnese Hercules and the Esquiline Venus, or after such quotidian objects from the contemporary residential landscape as a rustic mailbox, a birdbath, and an inflatable garden snowman. Created in close collaboration with Koons, this elegant publication echoes the classic design of a 1970 Picasso catalogue that the artist admires. Inside, vivid color plates of the sculptures in situ capture the stark contrast between the pristine whiteness of the plaster and the highly reflective spheres. In their perfect contours and smooth, glistening surfaces, the gazing balls implicate audience as well as contextāmirroring both and offering playful yet powerful meditations on the dialogue between gaze and reflection. āWhile all of the sculptures are grounded in their own distinct narratives, derived from Art History and suburban towns,ā writes Francesco Bonami in his catalogue essay, āthe seemingly fragile and delicate gazing ball establishes that sense of uncertain equilibrium that exists between history and fantasy, magic and materiality, mass culture and exclusive beauty.ā
This book title, Jeff Koons: Gazing Ball, ISBN: 9780989980913, by Jeff Koons, Francesco Bonami, published by David Zwirner Books (April 30, 2014) is available in hardcover. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
Unlike Amazon and other retailers who may also offer Jeff Koons: Gazing Ball books on their website, we specialize in large quantities and provide personal service, from trusted, experienced, friendly people in Portland, Oregon. We offer a Price Match Guarantee, and QuickQuote form, to make purchasing quick and easy.
Prefer to work with a human being when you order Jeff Koons: Gazing Ball books in bulk? Our Book Specialists are standing by Monday-Friday 8-5 PST, ready to help!