Visitor breaks very expensive statue by artist Jeff Koons at vernissage in Miami | Abroad

A collector visiting a contemporary art fair in Miami accidentally knocked over and broke a porcelain figurine by famed artist Jeff Koons. The statuette was estimated at 42,000 dollars, the equivalent of 39,200 euros.

The blue statue was part of the well-known series ‘Balloon dog’, with which Jeff Koons made a name for himself abroad. The incident occurred at a vernissage at Art Wynwood in Miami. Some collectors still thought it was an art performance or that it was staged. But when the woman turned bright red and the staff rushed over, it soon turned out that it was really an accident.

“I saw the woman tapping the statue. It fell and broke into a thousand pieces,” said artist Stephen Gamson on Fox News. At first he thought the woman was tapping the figurine to make sure it was a real balloon.

Insurance

Bénédicte Caluch, artistic consultant at Bel-Air Fine Art, which sponsored the work of Jeff Koons, told the American newspaper ‘Miami Herald’ that the collector did not want to break the statue. The insurance would cover the damage.

Jeff Koons’ dog at the Art Wynwood vernissage. © RV/Bel-Air Fine Art – Contemporary Art Galleries

Jeff Koons, who did not attend, is an American painter and sculptor. He takes his inspiration from everyday objects, such as animal balloons.

Some of his works have sold for more than $91 million. Dog balloon images vary in size, from less than 12 inches to more than 10 feet.

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