Jeff Koons' "Statuary" series, initiated in 1986, stands as a provocative commentary on the intersections of art, consumerism, and cultural iconography. This collection showcases Koons’ penchant for blending high and low culture, a trait that has defined much of his career. Produced for a group show commissioned by the influential art collector Ileana Sonnabend, "Statuary" consists of several sculptures, each rendered in stainless steel. These works explore themes ranging from traditional European art historical motifs to contemporary popular culture icons, embodying a sense of duality and contrast within each piece (MyArtBroker).
The series is renowned for its tongue-in-cheek approach, utilizing the aesthetic of everyday inflatable toys and transforming them into the permanence of stainless steel. "Rabbit" (1986), perhaps the most iconic piece of the series, exemplifies this by casting a rabbit-shaped balloon in metal, a move that has cemented its place in art history with a record-breaking auction price of over $91 million in May 2019. Koons' "Statuary" not only dialogues with the legacy of Marcel Duchamp’s readymades by elevating ordinary objects to art but also interrogates the cultural and monetary value ascribed to them (MyArtBroker) (Artland Magazine).
Significantly, "Statuary" delves into the juxtaposition of royal and ordinary figures, such as the regal Louis XIV and the everyday Bob Hope, stripping them of their original contexts and meanings. This approach allows Koons to question the authenticity and value of mass-produced iconography, challenging viewers to reconsider the boundaries between high and low art. This series plays with materials traditionally not associated with luxury, such as stainless steel, described by Koons as "proletarian" or working class, to critique and reevaluate the notions of value and prestige in art and society (MyArtBroker) (Artland Magazine).
"Statuary" serves as an important precursor to Koons’ later works, particularly the "Celebration" series, marking a pivotal moment in his career where he began to explore the complex interplay of scale, value, and cultural commentary through his sculptures. Through "Statuary," Koons develops upon Duchamp’s concept of the readymade, pushing the boundaries of what constitutes art in contemporary culture, and in doing so, he critically examines the mechanisms of art historical value and consumer culture (MyArtBroker) (Artland Magazine).