"Jeff Koons: A Retrospective" Exhibition Opening Reception
Where: Whitney Museum of American Art
Who was there: Guests included Jeff Koons, Gloria Koons, Princess Maria Elisabeth von Thurn und Taxis, Justine Koons, Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, Alek Wek, Cindy Sherman, Larry Gagosian, Sean Koons, Tina Brown, Edythe Broad, Eli Broad, Norman Rosenthal, Agnes Gund, Andrea Wynn, Arianna Huffington, China Chow, Craig Starr, David Salle, Scott Rothkopf, Stephanie Seymour, Steve Wynn, Urs Fischer, Bob Colacello, Isabella Huffington, Jeffrey Deitch, Laura de Gunzburg, Leandra Medine, Neil Bluhm, Todd Eberle, Adam Weinberg, Alain Seban, Bernard Blistne, Bernard Picasso, Bill Cunningham, Brice Marden, Chrissie Erpf, Dakis Joannou, Donald Marron, Donna De Salvo, Doreen Remen, Eric Goode, Fred Wilson, Glenn Lowry, Helen Marden, Jamie Niven, Jared Cohen, Kaitlin Lechich, Maria Bell, Nicole Ruvo, Peter Brant, Rebecca Cohen, Steve Eichner, William Marron, Zoe Buckman, Almine Rech Picasso, Amelia Diamond, Bill Bell, David X Prutting, Gael Neeson, Glenn Ligon, Ingrid Sischy, Jerry Saltz, Jim Gordon, John Currin, Linda Yablonsky, Lisa Phillips, Liz Swig, Marilyn Minter, Olympia de Castrom, Paul Kasmin, Rachel Feinstein, RoseLee Goldberg, Sandy Brant, Stefan Edlis, Stephanie Manes, Steven Cohen, Thelma Golden, and Yvonne Force Villareal.
Other details: Last night, the Whitney Museum celebrated the new exhibit - "Jeff Koons: A Retrospective" -with an opening reception for friends and VIP guests to explore the collection. Five floors of the museum were filled with Koons' works, from his recent "Gazing Ball" sculptures on the ground floor to classic sculptures like "Balloon Dog," which he's become famous for. Guests explored the career-spanning show and offered high praise as they experienced some of Koons' profound and provocative sculptures in person for the first time. Koons himself was present with his family, and strolled around the museum catching up with friends, discussing the work, and politely granting numerous photo requests. He, along with many of the guests, spent the most time on the 4th floor, where his largest sculptures were situated. As he walked around the floor with notable art dealer Jeffrey Deitch, New York Times contributor and famed style photographer Bill Cunningham snapped away. Back on the basement level, guests took a moment to have a drink and indulge in decadent bites including burrata on toast, beef tartare, and truffled gnocchi. They relaxed in the outdoor area, where dozens of passerby's sat near the museum entrance peering through the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the spectacle.
Go HERE for more photos by Natalie Poette from the for the "Jeff Koons: A Retrospective" Exhibition Opening Reception!
[China Chow, Jeffrey Deitch] [Yvonne Force Villareal, Nicole Ruvo]