Haute 100 New York Update: Jeff Koons

Our Haute 100 list details the accomplishments of the most influential people in each of our markets—Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. These people continue to make moves, so rather than waiting for the next Haute 100 issue to come out, we thought we’d provide you with regular updates on those Haute 100 members who are making headlines. On our Haute 100 New York list is Jeff Koons, the artist who recently used his renowned pop-art style to illuminate the walls of an Illinois children’s hospital.

Jeff Koons

Category: Thinkers

Industry: Art

What Made Him Haute: In November 2007, Koons’ works became some of the most expensive by any living artist when his giant stainless-steel Hanging Heart sold at Sotheby’s New York for $23.6 million, only to be topped in July 2008 by his Balloon Flower (Magenta) selling for a record $25.7 million at Christie’s in London. In July of this year, he had his first major solo show at the Serpentine Gallery in London.

What Makes Him Haute Now: Jeff Koons has recently made a lot of children happy. In collaboration with RxArt, Koons painted artwork on the plain hospital walls at the Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital in Illinois. The artist transformed the hospital walls of the CT Scanner Room and Radiology Department into colorful masterpieces complete with monkeys, horses and other animals in his well-known pop-art style. The purpose of the project is too cheer up young patients and make the hospital experience a more enjoyable one.

Koons’ “Made in Heaven” series will premier once more, 20 years after its first showing in 1990, in Venice under the name “Jeff Koons: Made in Heaven Paintings.” The exhibitions will include nine canvases, one glass sculpture and a new book with an essay from curator Alison M. Gingeras.