Jeff Koons
‚Gazing Balls‘

New York

Two of the biggest names of the contemporary art scenes are uniting. Under the title ‘Gazing Ball Paintings’ Gagosian Gallery and Jeff Koons present an exhibition of new works by the contemporary master. The show combines old masters inspirations to his iconic reflective balls.

Jeff Koons is mainly associated to his ‘Balloon’ pieces of great dimensions realized in his Chelsea studios according to his ideas. Yet ‘Gazing Ball’ is changing this perspective. For this new series, Koons pays tribute to masters of the past such as Titian, El Greco, Courbet and Manet whose famous paintings he uses. On these paintings is incorporated an aluminium base, on which a three dimension gazing ball reflects the viewer and his surroundings. By doing so, Koons creates a bridge in-between the great masters and himself as well as in between the viewer and the masterpieces. Indeed, the gazing balls allow the viewer to incorporate himself into these famous paintings through a game of reflection and distortion.

Different dimensions and materials are combined in order to create maximum ’sensory perceptions’ and to reunite viewers and consecrated art.

JEFF KOONS
Gazing Ball (Manet Luncheon on the Grass), 2014-2015
Oil on canvas, glass, and aluminum
63 x 81 1/4 x 14 3/4 inches
160 x 206.4 x 37.5 cm
© Jeff Koons Courtesy Gagosian Gallery/Photo: Tom Powel Imaging

Jeff Koons
Gagosian Gallery

November 09 – December 23, 2015

522 West 21st Street
New York, NY 10011
USA

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