Jeff Koons' "Popeye (Stainless)" is a significant piece in the oeuvre of one of the most prominent figures in contemporary art. Created between 2009 and 2011, this sculpture is part of a series that showcases Koons' fascination with popular culture icons and commercial imagery. The artwork, meticulously crafted from mirror-polished stainless steel with a transparent color coating, stands at 78 x 51 3/4 x 28 1/2 inches (198.1 x 131.4 x 72.4 cm). It reflects Koons' expertise in transforming familiar, everyday objects into high art, blurring the lines between the commercial and the artistic, the accessible and the exclusive​ (Jeff Koons)​.

"Popeye (Stainless)" falls under the Neo-Pop Art style, emphasizing a continuation of the Pop Art movement's interest in mass culture and consumerism, albeit with a modern twist that often involves a deeper exploration of the way art interacts with societal norms and commercialism​ (www.wikiart.org)​. This piece, like many of Koons' works, navigates the realms of irony and sincerity by elevating a cartoon character to the status of fine art, thereby questioning the hierarchies of cultural value.

Jeff Koons, born in 1955, has had a career trajectory that is as fascinating as his art. With an educational background from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Koons moved to New York in 1977. He initially worked at the Museum of Modern Art's membership desk before venturing into a brief career as a commodities broker on Wall Street. Koons rose to prominence in the 1980s with his conceptual sculptures and has since become known for his factory-like studio production method, where each piece is meticulously crafted to appear as if made by a single hand​ (Wikipedia)​.

Throughout his career, Koons has explored a variety of themes and series, from his early works and inflatables to his luxury and degradation series, each showcasing his ability to combine conceptual depth with the visual language of popular and consumer culture. His works, including "Popeye (Stainless)," often challenge the viewer's perceptions of art, commerce, and value, making him a polarizing yet undeniably influential figure in contemporary art.