Jeff Koons (b. 1955, York, Pennsylvania, USA) is among the world’s most influential and iconoclastic living artists. He studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He received a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 1976.

Since his first solo exhibition in 1980, Koons’ work has been shown in major galleries and institutions throughout the world. His work was the subject of a major exhibition organized by the Whitney Museum of American Art, “Jeff Koons: A Retrospective” (June 27 to October 19, 2014), which travelled to the Centre Pompidou Paris (November 26, 2014 to April 27, 2015) and the Guggenheim Bilbao (June 9 to September 27, 2015).

Koons has become internationally renowned for his sculptures and paintings that explore meaning in our media-saturated age. Marrying rigorous conceptualism with commercial aesthetics, and spectacular displays with an unparalleled degree of technical finesse, Koons has repeatedly tested the limits of both fabrication and art history, simultaneously redefining Minimalism and Pop Art. His “Inflatables,” which apply Duchamp’s concept of the readymade to objects rendered in stainless steel and often enlarged to monumental scale, have become emblems of our contemporary era. The mirrored finishes of sculptures such as Rabbit (1986) and Balloon Dog (1994–2000), as well as the more recent “Gazing Ball” series (2012–21), create opportunities for affirmation through literal self-reflection. These shiny, brightly colored surfaces extend to Koons’ photorealistic paintings, their fusion of pop and art historical references achieving his stated aim to “communicate with the masses.” Transcending time and geography, high and low culture, Koons’ art imparts a visual experience of the sublime.

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production and assembly facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set its course for the future early on and is making sustainability and resource efficiency the focus of the company’s strategic direction—from the supply chain, through production, to the end of the use phase, for all its products.

UCCA Lab is an interdisciplinary platform under UCCA Group for new kinds of art-adjacent collaboration. Formed with UCCA Center for Contemporary Art at its core, UCCA Group works to bring China into global dialogue through contemporary art. UCCA Lab has worked with local governments and cultural departments throughout China, prominent brands across a variety of industries, and artists and creators across cultures to create bespoke art and cultural events, exhibitions, projects, and campaigns. Its activities have become a defining feature of UCCA’s cultural presence. UCCA Lab seeks to share the joys of contemporary art and culture with an ever-larger audience, continually exploring urban space, interacting with local contexts, and expanding the potential forms that art projects may take.

THE 8 × JEFF KOONS “I’m Going POP!” pop-up art event is organized by the BMW Group, with artistic planning provided by UCCA Lab, part of the UCCA Group. The exhibition is curated by Men Jiecong and odd Design Agency provides exhibition design.