American artist Jeff Koons has set a world record!
His work, ‘Rabbit,’ a stainless steel casting of an inflatable rabbit, sold for a record $91.1 million, a record price for a living artist. The auction was organized by Christie’s in New York. This work surpassed British artist David Hockney’s painting ‘Portrait of An Artist (Pool with two figures),’ which sold for $90.3 million last November.
A 1986 sculpture, the Rabbit is 104 centimetres high and has long been regarded as one of the most celebrated works ever. The shiny rabbit is clutching a carrot and is the second of an edition of three made by Koons.
The New York Times reported that the winning bid was made by Robert E. Mnuchin, an art dealer who is also the father of Steven Mnuchin, the Secretary of the United States Treasury.
Koons has, earlier too, held the record for the most expensive work by a living artist when his Balloon Dog (Orange) was sold for $58.4 million in 2013.
Watch the moment Jeff Koons’s ‘Rabbit’ sets a new #WorldAuctionRecord for a work by a living artist. https://t.co/3ZWvCzUDAN pic.twitter.com/ToKxCpzUK6
— Christie’s (@ChristiesInc) May 16, 2019
Koons, one of the most popular contemporary artists, has been renowned for creating awe-inspiring sculptures out of the most mundane objects.
Who is Jeff Koons?
Born in York, Pennsylvania in 1955, Jeff Koons is a pioneering artist who is acclaimed across the world for his unconventional works and for challenging art world conventions. His first solo exhibition was held in 1980 and since then, his work has been displayed in prominent art galleries and exhibitions across the world.
He has won numerous awards and accolades across his illustrious career.
