Bowl with Eggs & Cat on a Clothesline

Jeffrey “Jeff” Koons (born January 21 1955) is an American artist known for his reproductions of banal objects-such as balloon animals produced in stainless steel with mirror finish surfaces. Koons’ work has sold for substantial sums of money including at least one world record auction price for a work by a living artist.

In progress, making eggs in a basket.

The largest sum known to be paid for a work by Koons is Balloon flower (Magenta) which was sold at Christie’s London on Monday June 30 2008 (Lot 00012) in the Post-War & Contemporary Art Evening Sale where it sold for £12 921 250 or $25 765 204. Critics are sharply divided in their views of Koons. Some view his work as pioneering and of major art-historical importance. Others dismiss his work as kitsch: crass and based on cynical self-merchandising. Koons has stated that there are no hidden meanings in his works.

Read more about Jeff Koons on Artsy.