Seated Ballerina at Rockefeller Center

Recent visitors to Rockefeller Center in New York City might have discovered this interesting sculpture by artist Jeff Koons titled Seated Ballerina.

Part of what makes this sculpture unusual is that it’s inflatable nylon – not something you normally see in an outdoor public art installation. It’s scale is also impressive. As you can see from the photograph above, the sculpture towers over bystanders. It is 45 feet high, not including the wooden base.

 

What also makes this sculpture special is Koons’s intent in creating this work. Koons wanted the sculpture to bring public attention to the plight of missing and exploited children in the United States and around the world during National Missing Children’s Month. As part of that goal, efforts have been made to raise donations for the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.

The Rockefeller Center website provides this additional description of the sculpture:

Often referencing historical imagery and found objects, Koons based Seated Ballerina on a small porcelain figurine. The sculpture acts as a contemporary iteration of the goddess Venus, and symbolizes notions of beauty and connectivity. Its reflective surface mirrors its immediate environment and engages with each viewer.

I thought I’d leave you with one final view of the sculpture. I think this photograph shows some of the interesting details, including the sculptures structure.

Seated Ballerina was only on exhibition until July 5, 2017, so I’m afraid that if you haven’t already seen it you will have to rely on the photographs instead.