Jeff Koons, Balloon Dog (Blue), 1995-2002

Porcelain with original box and plastic stand

26.7 × 26.7 × 12.7 cm (10 1/2 × 10 1/2 × 5 in)

Edition of 2300

Jeff Koons released Balloon Dogs as part of his “Celebration” series in 1993. These playful sculptures are now among the most iconic works of contemporary art. In 2013, his 10-foot-tall Balloon Dog (Orange) (1994-2000) was purchased for $58.4 million at Christie’s, setting a new record for the most expensive work ever sold at auction by a living artist. Koons has also created smaller, collectible versions of this sculpture, as well as balloon swans, rabbits, monkeys, and even Venuses. “I’ve always enjoyed balloon animals because they’re like us,” Koons has said about the series, “We’re balloons. You take a breath and you inhale, it’s an optimism. You exhale, and it’s kind of a symbol of death.”