JEFF KOONS a Flower from a balloon (Purple). 1995-2000. Stainless steel, translucent color coating. 40 x 285 x 260. Sale price of 12.92 million pounds. Christie's. 30.06.07. Lot № 12


JEFF KOONS. Hanging heart (Magenta and gold). 1994-2006. Installation: metal, brass, colored coating. 101,6 x 296,2 x 215,9
estimated the auction (estimate): 15-20 million.
sale Price: 21 (23.6 vis) million.
Sotheby's. 14.11.07. Lot 14 is Now No. 2
the Work led the rankings in the period from November 2007 to may 2008.

on 10 September in the Palace of Versailles will begin an exhibition of works by the American "master of kitsch" Jeff Koons (Jeff Koons). Some works will be exhibited right in the Royal Suite. Despite the fact that opinions about the artist there are the most controversial, the exhibition provides a unique opportunity for France to host the works of the master, standing on the second step of rating the authors of the most expensive works of living artists.

Among the things that will be presented in Versailles, — monumental "Balloon dog", which will be located next to the masterpieces of Veronese, and "Hanging Heart", which will be placed above the Royal staircase.

on 30 June 2008, a Koons sculpture "Flower from a balloon (Purple)" from the collection of Howard and Cindy Rachkofski (Howard and Cindy Rachkovsky) was sold for of 12.92 million pounds (of 25.75 million). Interestingly, Rachkovsky got the job in 2001, just over 1.1 million dollars. Now "Flower" Koons took second place in the list of the most expensive works of living artists. Until 30 June it is the place of honour was occupied by another work of Koons: almost three-metre metal "Hanging Heart (Magenta/Gold)" in November 2007 was sold at Sotheby's for 23.6 million dollars. Version of this sculpture has become one of the Central objects in the collection of françois Pinault (Francois Pinault), the exposition which was opened in 2006 in the Palazzo Grassi in Venice. But the original, sold in November 2007, was delivered to its new owner Adam Lindemann (Adam Lindemann), literally "Assembly line" workshop Koons, and even never before exhibited.

Thanks to these two record sales, as well as three works from the series "Holidays" (Celebrations), begun by the artist in 1994, Jeff Koons, earned over the past year 81.3 million euros, ranks first in size of the annual income received at auction.

Collectors, who became the first to collect works of Koons, are now in a very advantageous position, because the price of his sculpture continue to grow. For example, "Inflatable dog" from metallized porcelain, which was released workshop Koons edition of 2300 copies, in 2002, was sold for EUR 1 200-1 800 per piece. Now the buyer, who wants to buy one such "Dog", will have to pay for it from two to four thousand euros.

the Exhibition in Versailles opens on 10 September and will last for three months — to 14 December 2008.

Source: artprice.com