Jeff Koons is a contemporary American artist known for his playful and provocative sculptures, installations, and paintings. Born in York, Pennsylvania, in 1955, Koons began his artistic career as a commodities broker on Wall Street before moving to New York City in the late 1970s to pursue art.

Koons studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago before completing his BFA at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1976. After moving to New York, Koons worked as a studio assistant for the artist Ed Paschke, where he honed his technical skills and developed his own artistic practice.

Koons’s early works, such as his Equilibrium series, explored themes of transformation and the human condition through the use of everyday objects and materials. In 1985, Koons gained international recognition with his sculpture Rabbit, a stainless steel depiction of a playful bunny that became an overnight sensation in the art world.

Throughout his career, Koons has continued to push boundaries with his artistic practice, creating works that are visually striking, intellectually stimulating, and often controversial. His work addresses a range of themes, including consumerism, sexuality, and the human form, through the use of unexpected materials and techniques.

Koon’s most famous works include Balloon Dog (1994-2000), a series of giant, metallic balloon animals; Michael Jackson and Bubbles (1988), a porcelain sculpture depicting the pop star and his pet chimpanzee; and Puppy (1992), a twenty-foot-tall sculpture of a West Highland terrier made entirely of flowers.

Although Koons has faced criticism and controversy throughout his career, his work remains a testament to his incredible technical skill and his willingness to challenge the status quo. Today, he is considered one of the most important contemporary artists of our time, with works in the collections of major museums and galleries around the world.