Jeff Koons Chats With Norman Rosenthal on Inflatables, Antiquities, and Much More

Published to coincide with Jeff Koons’s 2014–2015 retrospective, a new book, Jeff Koons: Conversations with Norman Rosenthal , provides the most revealing portrait that exists of Jeff Koons’ singular personality and artistic vision. He discusses works across his thirty-five -year career with his long-time friend and collaborator Norman Rosenthal, who conducted these interviews over three years. As well as examining all his major series in depth, from his first inflatables to his latest series on antiquities, the interviews shed new light on the artist’s interest in other artists’ works, reveal the significance of his youth and family life on his art, and explain the key concepts of his practice, such as his ideas on self-acceptance, ecstasy and sex. 

Jim Beam - J.B. Turner Train, 1986, stainless steel, bourbon

(© Jeff Koons )

Michael Jackson and Bubbles, 1988. porcelain

(© Jeff Koons)

Inflatable Flower and Bunny (Tall White and Pink Bunny), 1979, vinyl, mirrors

(© Jeff Koons)

Moon (Light Blue), 1995-2000. mirror-polished stainless steel with transparent color coating

(© Jeff Koons)

Antiquity 2, 2009-2011, oil on canvas

(© Jeff Koons)

"Swan", early ceramic work by Jeff Koons, c 1963

(© Jeff Koons)