Artist to speak about his life and work
CHARLESTON, S.C., October 3, 2016 – Recognized throughout the world for pioneering new approaches to the readymade and elevating everyday objects to an intellectual level, Jeff Koons will join the Gibbes Museum of Art as the featured speaker for its annual Distinguished Lecture Series on November 16, 2016 at the Charleston Music Hall.
“We are honored to host one of today’s most celebrated working artists and visionaries. His contribution to public art will make for a lively and fascinating conversation in Charleston,” said Angela Mack, the Gibbes Museum of Art’s executive director.
Founded with the generous support of Gibbes Board member and philanthropist Esther Ferguson, the Distinguished Lecture Series brings engaging, world-renowned artists, architects, art collectors, museum leaders, philanthropists and art historians to Charleston to stimulate public discussion about the visual arts and creativity.
Jeff Koons is acknowledged worldwide for his interpretation of pop-culture and banal objects, such as his iconic Balloon Dog (1994–2000) and Split Rocker (2000). Koons’ work has been shown in major galleries and institutions throughout the world. His work was the subject of a major 2014/15 exhibition organized by the Whitney Museum of American Art, Jeff Koons: A Retrospective, which traveled to the Centre Pompidou Paris and Guggenheim Bilbao. One of the most prominent artists working today, his artwork has brought record-setting prices at auction, including the world-recording auction price for a living artist. Jeff Koons has received numerous awards and honors in recognition of his cultural achievements. To view his works of art, please visit www.jeffkoons.com/artwork.
Notably, Koons received the Governor’s Awards for the Arts “Distinguished Arts Award” from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts; the “Golden Plate Award” from the Academy of Achievement; President Jacques Chirac promoted Koons to Officier de la Legion d’Honneur; and Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton honored Koons with the State Department’s Medal of the Arts for his outstanding commitment to the Art in Embassies Program and international cultural exchange.
Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.charlestonmusichall.com/event/jeff-koons/ or by calling the Charleston Music Hall Box office at 843-853-2252.
About the Gibbes Museum of Art
Home to the Carolina Art Association, established in 1858, the Gibbes Museum of Art is recognized among the oldest arts organizations in the United States. Housing one of the foremost collections of American Art from the 18th century to the present, the museum’s mission is to enhance lives through art by engaging people of every background and experience with art and artists of enduring quality and by providing opportunities to learn, to discover, to enjoy, and to be inspired by the creative process.
###
Media Contact
Adria Shuford
Lou Hammond Group
[email protected]
(843) 410-5306
Top Image: Gazing Ball (Rubens, Tiger Hunt), 2015, by Jeff Koons; oil on canvas, glass, and aluminum; 64 1/2 x 83 1/8 x 14 3/4 in. © Jeff Koons