Jeff Koons

Winter Bears

About this artwork

'Winter Bears' is one of a series of sculptures Koons produced for an exhibition entitled ‘Banality’ in 1988. The sculpture was fabricated by skilled craftsmen who employed the same techniques used to produce Rococo ceramics and Bavarian sculptural woodcarvings. The artist’s subject matter derived from everyday experience and drew upon cult images that are recognisable and comforting. Based upon a child’s miniature ornament, 'Winter Bears' is the most obviously sentimental of the series. However, with its highly polished surface, bold colours and oversized scale, the sculpture is also strangely overbearing, serving to challenge conventional preconceptions of style and taste.

Updated before 2020

  • artist:
    Jeff Koons (born 1955) American
  • title:
    Winter Bears
  • date created:
    1988
  • materials:
    Polychromed wood
  • measurements:
    124.50 x 117.00 x 45.00 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    ARTIST ROOMS National Galleries of Scotland and Tate. Acquired jointly through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Art Fund, 2008
  • accession number:
    AR00494
  • gallery:
This artwork is part of Artist Rooms
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Jeff Koons

Jeff Koons