This week, storied porcelain house Bernardaud launched its latest collaboration with American art icon Jeff Koons. A porcelain edition of Koons's signature 10-foot sculpture, Balloon Dog (1994-2000), this spectacular, smaller-scale version, titled, Balloon Dog (Blue), offers art aficionados the opportunity to pay homage to Koons and his mid-90s Celebration series that continues to inspire and bring joy today.
Bernardaud BALLOON DOG (BLUE) by Jeff Koons
The collaboration launched this week in the France Pavillion at the Dubai World Expo and will be followed up with a launch in New York on November 15. Balloon Dog (Blue) is only available for purchase through Bernardaud as part of a limited-edition release of 799 pieces.
While a Limoges porcelain brand that has been in the same family since 1863 and an American contemporary artist with a Neo-Pop aesthetic may not seem like they have much in common, Bernardaud and Koons have collaborated for nearly a decade on everything from tableware to porcelain replicas of his other notable works, and CEO Michael Bernardaud says this launch is the perfect way to celebrate the brand's approaching 160th anniversary by showcasing its ability to innovate and stay relevant in an ever-changing world.
"We’ve been collaborating with Jeff Koons for nearly ten years now and every new project is a technical challenge for us to meet the artist’s expectations and an opportunity to go beyond the limits of porcelain," says Bernardaud. "Every time, we are thrilled and excited at the idea of working on a new project which has been the case with the Balloon Dog (Blue), such an iconic piece." He says that no detail was compromised in bringing this legendary piece to life in porcelain as the brand was challenged by the reflective surface that makes this Koons's creation so covet-worthy, the glaze techniques, and the refining process to create the smoothest possible finish.
Widely considered to be one of the most important artists of our generation with a fanbase that includes Karl Lagerfeld and Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Koons's work is a collector-favorite for not only his modernity but his playful approach that invites conversation by art enthusiasts across all respects. His original Balloon Dog (1994-2000) offers consumers the ability to preserve a piece of childhood memory and youthful wonder with such an optimistic, saturated, and shiny object.
“It’s a very optimistic piece, it’s like a balloon that a clown would twist for you at a birthday party; but at the same time, it’s also a Trojan horse, the work has an interior life," Koons says. "It ties us to the present moment while at the same time to our ancient past. The exterior is totally reflective. It always reflects its environment, affirming the viewer. When you move the abstraction happens; nothing happens without you; it’s all about you. When you leave the room, the art leaves the room with you.”
Lauren Wicks is a freelance writer and editor based in Birmingham, Alabama. Before going on her own, Lauren worked for brands such as VERANDA, EatingWell, and Cooking Light, and she covers all things lifestyle from interior design and luxury travel to wine and wellness.
