Jeff Koons: Conversations with Norman Rosenthal

by Jeff Koons, Norman Rosenthal

Jeff Koons engages with distinguished art curator Sir Norman Rosenthal resulting in a revealing portrait of the life and art of the most foremost international working artist today Here is what happens when Jeff Koons, one of the most important and controversial artists of the twenty-first century, sits down with distinguished art curator Sir Norman Rosenthal.

Published to coincide with his 2014–2015 retrospective, this new book provides the most revealing portrait that exists of Jeff Koons’ singular personality and artistic vision as he discusses works across his thirty-five -year career with his long-time friend and collaborator Rosenthal. Rosenthal’s masterful interviews, conducted over three years, give unparalleled access to the thoughts of one of the most influential minds in contemporary culture, disclosing the artist undistorted and in his own words. 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. A book of historic importance, extensively and comprehensively illustrated throughout, it will become the reference point for all who want to understand Koons and creativity in the twenty-first century. 250 color illustrations

Genres: Art

296 pages, Hardcover

First published June 17, 2014

About the author

Jeffrey Lynn Koons is an American artist recognized for his work dealing with popular culture and his sculptures depicting everyday objects, including balloon animals produced in stainless steel with mirror-finish surfaces. He lives and works in both New York City and his hometown of York, Pennsylvania. His works have sold for substantial sums, including at least two record auction prices for a work by a living artist: US$58.4 million for Balloon Dog (Orange) in 2013 and US$91.1 million for Rabbit in 2019.
Critics come 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 or critiques in his works.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently had the chance to view some of Jeff Koons' art at an exhibition at my local museum. I hadn't seen his stuff in the flesh before, and - despite my opinion that he is more of a designer than an artist - I loved it, almost against my preconceptions. This beautifully produced book has some excellent photographs of his artwork and I couldn't help raising a smile every time I looked at the cover. In conversation with Norman Rosenthal, however, Koons does come across as the lesser of two geniuses. Rosenthal has informed opinions, enthusiasm, and a seemingly wide appreciation of art history; Koons seems cocooned in a world of his making, his comments on art reduced to 'dialogue' and nebulous terminology. Whereas I felt Rosenthal was precise, Koons was cloud-cuckoo. This doesn't actually detract from my opinion of him either as person or artist, but it provided an interesting contrast. The book is an easy read, with many fascinating ideas, and is a welcome insight into how Koons works.

[Mary Erickson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is #22 in my 5X5 library challenge, where I head down to the 5th stack of a row, go to the 5th shelf from the top, then choose any book from that shelf. Non-fiction. The 709.2s are biographies of artists.

From a shelf of biographies of artists I chose this one about Jeff Koons because of the catchy cover art, because there were a lot of photos, and because it was formatted as a conversation between two artists. And it was relatively shorter than some of the other tomes on the shelf.

I have no particular interest in the art of Jeff Koons. Although some of it is sort of, "Hey, that's cool," I wouldn't spend more than 20 seconds looking at any particular piece. So for me this book was 2*, but if this is in your wheelhouse, it would be more worthwhile, I'm sure.

Here's a typical Q&A:

Q. Was 'Luxury and Degradation' your most political series?
A. I believe that all my work has a kind of political basis, but it's a political basis in the self-value of the viewer, a platform for trying to communicate to them that their own history is perfect. It's about the expansion of their own parameters and to me that is political, even if it's not about one particular issue.

OK, if that's your cup of tea, you will love this book!

I did like learning about how his studio works--there are many people working on each of his projects, while he directs the production. It's not just one artist working alone in a quiet and solitude.

And I found that Koons has a very optimistic, very happy spirit, which was counter to my impression of artists being gloomy, angry, or depressed...a la Van Gogh.

Everything has something to offer, and if you look at something at some level there's something there that you can find of benefit. I really try to take life like a glass filled with water and put a sponge in there and try to get something out of everything. And acceptance does that. So to try not to make judgments, to look at something and try to find something of interest, only gives more possibility.

So, for fans of Jeff Koons, or if you just want a quick overview of his art and his process you can skim through this pretty quickly.

[Meesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting insight into Jeff Koons and his life with the perspective of what feels like being a fly on the wall in a conversation between two friends that sometimes feels too personal for you to be witness too. A must for any Koons fan who wishes to know more than just the obvious about the artist.

[Hope Ollivant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not genius, but inspirational in some ways. Was able to pull some wisdom out of it. I found the first two and last two chapters most interesting.