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Jeff Koons Unveils First Live-Action Video Work with Google By Rain Embuscado | May 10, 2016

Left: Jeff Koons X Google. Courtesy of Patrick McMullan. Right: Jeff Koons, Gazing Ball series. Courtesy of Rain Embuscado for artnet News.

Jeff Koons wants everybody to have a piece of his art, and he's working with the biggest tech giant to make it happen. At a recent private event jointly hosted by Koons and Google at Spring Studios in New York, the power- houses officially unveiled a collaboration that they've been touting across social media as #KoonsxGoogle.

Their project takes form in a new line of phone sets for the tech company's latest Nexus device. For $40, Google offers, as they state, the opportunity to "own a limited-edition piece by one of the greatest living artists in the world."

“Live cases,” as the sets are called, feature three variant designs culled from the artist’s popular Gazing Ball series: Bust, Diana, and Mailbox. The three sculptures were selected from a total of twenty pieces in the full collection.

According to a spokesperson at the event, Koons also bills this collaboration as his first live-action video work. In addition to the hard-shell designs, the phones are home to an interactive video background that remains fixed on the screen and activates with a double-tap.

To create the dynamic wallpaper, which Koons titled The Gazing Ball Ballet, he enlisted the help of dancers Ash- ley Laracey and Troy Schumacher. The pair, a married couple who perform for the New York City Ballet, offers new performances every few days. They even turned up for a performance at the private event.

Only time will tell how the art world will respond to the artist’s commercial venture, but Koons was sure to ex- press this concern. “I hope the result will be viewed as aesthetic,” Koons admitted to the crowd. “And I hope it creates a sense of unity.” Ever the charmer, he swiftly added (and much to his audience’s delight): “It exceeded expectations, and I expect a lot.”

The limited-edition Jeff Koons cases will be available starting May 10.