CANBERRA.- The National Gallery of Australia has announced a new acquisition by celebrated American artist Jeff Koons. Koons’ striking sculpture — Balloon Venus Dolni Vestonice (Yellow), 2013–17 — has been gifted to the national collection.

Generously donated by Steve and Kylie Shelley, Balloon Venus Dolni Vestonice (Yellow) is a gleaming 2.7m-high sculpture made of highly polished stainless steel with a yellow finish. Now on display at the National Gallery in Kamberri/Canberra, the sculpture by Koons is a vibrant example of his ability to use contemporary practice to reinterpret art history.

On 6 August, Koons joined the National Gallery in Kamberri/Canberra for the official unveiling of the acquisition. He is the first artist to visit the National Gallery as part of the American Friends of the National Gallery of Australia (AFNGA): Visiting Creatives Program, with Jeffrey Gibson to follow in late 2025.

Jeff Koons is known for his Neo-Pop aesthetics and monumental sculptures inspired by American popular culture. He draws on a wide range of objects and traditions, from Baroque statues to household appliances. Koons’ signature usage of mirrored surfaces incorporates the viewer and a multiplicity of views to encourage interpretations.

Balloon Venus Dolni Vestonice (Yellow) is part of Koons’ Antiquity series and is one of five unique versions of the sculpture in violet, magenta, red, yellow and orange. The sculpture is an example of Koons’ exploration of ancient objects through modern means, inviting audiences to reflect on the enduring nature of beauty, fertility and form.

Balloon Venus Dolni Vestonice (Yellow) is based on a tiny, ancient fertility figure made of mammoth ivory from the Upper Palaeolithic period. The prehistoric figurine is believed to be one of the earliest known representations of the human body. The Balloon Venus works were complex to manufacture and produced over an extended period: others from the group — Balloon Venus 2008–12, Balloon Venus Hohlen Fels 2013–19 and Balloon Venus Lespugue 2013–19 — also take inspiration from ancient sources.

Dr Lucina Ward, Senior Curator, National Gallery: ‘Koons’ reinterpreting of an ancient icon through his signature balloon-like form and industrial materials is both playful and surprising. Balloon Venus Dolni Vestonice (Yellow) suggests a monumental, gilded crucifix and apart from scale, the most obvious difference between the source inspiration and Koons’ work is the mirrored surface treatment that reflects the viewer and surrounds.’

The acquisition of Koons’ Balloon Venus Dolni Vestonice (Yellow) is a significant addition to the national collection. It follows recent acquisitions by a number of globally recognised artists including Edvard Munch, Tracey Emin, Julie Mehretu and Judy Chicago with the National Gallery expanding its holdings of international contemporary art.

Jeff Koons: ‘I'm so happy Balloon Venus Dolni Vestonice (Yellow) is at the National Gallery in Canberra. I always enjoyed working with a metallic surface because it reflects us and affirms us. Art is within the viewer; it's about your essence and your own potential. Anybody coming to the National Gallery, looking at Balloon Venus, is going to see this work is about them. Whatever they're thinking about, if they're feeling a sense of connection to memory and history, this is the art they’re experiencing – and when they leave the room, the art leaves with them.’

Dr Nick Mitzevich, Director, National Gallery: ‘Jeff Koons is one of the most influential artists of our time. His work provokes critical discourse, drawing both acclaim and controversy. Balloon Venus Dolni Vestonice (Yellow) from Koons’ Antiquity series is a striking example of his practice and we are excited that it has joined the national collection. The National Gallery is deeply grateful to Steve and Kylie Shelley for their generosity in gifting the work to the Australian public.’

Steve and Kylie Shelley: ‘We are excited to share this important sculpture by Jeff Koons with visitors to Australia’s National Gallery, now and for many generations to come. Koons’ work sparks conversation and curiosity and we believe it belongs in a public collection, where it can be experienced by all.’

Jeff Koons’ Balloon Venus Dolni Vestonice (Yellow) 2013–17 is now on display in International Art on Level 1 at the National Gallery, Kamberri/Canberra.