Jeff Koons – Lobster – 2025

Jeff Koons - Lobster - 2025

The latest collaboration between Bernardaud and American artist Jeff Koons, Lobster (2025) is a limited-edition porcelain sculpture released in just 99 pieces. Inspired by Koons’s iconic inflatable lobsters, this striking work draws from a recurring motif in his celebrated Popeye series (2003–2009), where the lobster becomes a symbol of self-acceptance and transformation- key themes embodied by the comic book character himself.

Koons’s 2008 solo exhibition at the Château de Versailles marked a pivotal moment in his career. He was deeply inspired not only by the palace’s grandeur and artistic heritage, but also by the elegance of its historic tableware. The lobster itself also carries layered symbolism, which Koons describes as inherently dualistic:

“I like the lobster because it’s a symbol, both masculine and feminine. The tail tends to be very feminine, almost like a feather that a stripper may use in some type of performance, while the arms, the cross, is more masculine. The way the sculpture is painted, as the original inflatable was, almost looks like fire, as if the lobster was burnt. You have this sense of going back in time, almost to medieval time with this form of public display.” —Jeff Koons in conversation with Laurent Le Bon, Versailles, July 2008.

Lobster showcases Jeff Koons’s talent for blending art historical references with themes like breath, biology, sexuality, and duality. The piece pays homage to Surrealism and Dada while reflecting Koons’s ongoing exploration of the boundary between high and low culture and his commitment to technical perfection. Modelled after an inflatable pool toy, Lobster evokes Salvador Dalí’s Lobster Telephone (1936) and recalls Marcel Duchamp’s ready-mades through its playful yet unconventional presentation.

Comprising 18 detachable parts, including 13 hidden compartments within its claws, tail, and underside, Lobster was developed over nearly eight years in close collaboration between Bernardaud and Jeff Koons. The project pushed the boundaries of porcelain craftsmanship, engaging over 40 artisans in a six-week production process. With seven firings at temperatures ranging from 800°C to 1,400°C, the sculpture stands as a testament to both technical mastery and artistic ambition.

Medium: Porcelain centerpiece comprising 18 detachable parts, including 13 hidden compartments within its claws, tail, and underside
Size: 26 x 59 x 85 cm
Edition of 99 + 5AP
Hand-signed by the artist on Certificate of Authenticity
Price: € 85,000 (ex VAT)

This limited edition Jeff Koons work is available from New Art Editions