25 Things You Didn't Know About Jeff Koons

Beyond Koons' balloon animals.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Jeff Koons is a polarizing figure in the art world. He's been referred to as "the most successful artist since Warhol," and he's been called the "King of Kitsch." His works are highly praised by some and mocked by others. Whether or not you like his work, there is no denying that Jeff Koons has created an extremely lucrative brand. With several million dollars worth of art sold at auction, over 100 employees, and numerous awards and gallery shows under his belt, Koons has little left to prove, but still people just don't like him. 

Some got to know Koons after his appearance on the Colbert Report but most identify him with his Tulips or various balloon animal sculptures. To teach you more about the man who followed in Marcel Duchamp's "readymade" footsteps and took the art world by storm, we created this list of 25 Things You Didn't Know About Jeff Koons.

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As a child he sold gift-wrapping paper and candies door-to-door.

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His first job after art school was behind the information desk of the MoMA.

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His middle name is Lynn.

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His blood is on an Ed Paschke painting from the 1970s.

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At eight-years-old, Koons painted copies of Old Master paintings and sold them at his father's furniture store.

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Bambi (1942) and Goldfinger (1964) are two of his favorite films.

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He drove a Pontiac Firebird 400 when he was 16.

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The custody battle for his son, Ludwig, changed the way he thought about his art.

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He donated art to a hospital in his hometown.

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Tuna burgers are one of his favorite foods.

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He was called the "art world's Orson Welles."

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Koons is a huge Led Zeppelin fan.

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As a freshman in college, Koons met and hung out with Dali in New York City.

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To support his art, Koons worked on Wall Street selling stocks and bonds for six years.

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The Lobster sculpture that appears in a few of his works is made up of 213 colors.

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He made Michael Jackson white first.

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The first piece of art he collected was a Roy Lichtenstein.

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He bought his late grandfather's farm outside of East Prospect, Pennsylvania.

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He does not like the word "kitsch."

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He likes cereal because it reminds him of a mother's milk.

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Helmut Lang once said that Koons was like the son of Pee Wee Herman and Lucille Ball.

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He "tweaks" his work even while it's on display.

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He plays "Art Games" with his children at bedtime.

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He employs 120 people, but he isn't comfortable with the term "factory" to describe his business.

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Koons said that his only parallels in the 20th century were Picasso and Duchamp.

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