While the studio editions of the Split-Rocker captivate with their metallic sheen, the work takes on a completely new, organic dimension in its monumental form as a “Living Sculpture.” Here, Jeff Koons breaks the boundaries of traditional sculpture and creates an installation over 11 meters tall that unites architecture, horticulture, and Pop Art into a living organism. A giant made of 50,000 flowers The monumental Split Rocker is far more than a sculpture—it is a vertical garden of overwhelming complexity. The steel structure serves as a skeleton for a sophisticated internal irrigation system that nourishes a “skin” of over 50,000 living flowers. Nature’s diversity: Depending on the location (such as at the Glenstone Museum or the Rockefeller Center), petunias, begonias, fuchsias, and marigolds are planted to precisely trace the contours of a pony and a dinosaur. Change in Fast Motion: As the plants grow and bloom, the work constantly changes its appearance throughout the seasons—a process Koons describes as “a balance between absolute control and letting go to nature.” The Anatomy of Duality On a monumental scale, the eponymous “split” between the two heads becomes a walk-through architectural experience. The viewer recognizes the deliberate incongruity: on one side, the gentle profile of his son’s rocking horse; on the other, the jagged head of the toy dinosaur “Dino.” This three-dimensional cubist approach challenges our perception of symmetry and identity. Global Stops for an Icon Since its premiere in 2000 at the Palais des Papes in Avignon, the Split-Rocker has occupied some of the world’s most significant locations: Palace of Versailles (2008): A triumphant dialogue with Baroque garden art. Fondation Beyeler (2012): A poetic integration into the Swiss park landscape. LACMA (2025/2026): A new, permanent installation in Los Angeles that, thanks to the mild climate, will be in full bloom year-round for the first time. A statement on permanence and transience The monumental Split-Rocker embodies the ultimate Koons theme: the desire for eternity through the medium of the ephemeral. Despite its massive dimensions and heavy steel frame, its blooming splendor makes it appear soft, inviting, and deeply human. Bring the vision of this monumentality into your collection. Whether as a large-format edition or as inspiration for your understanding of modern art—the Split-Rocker remains one of the most influential symbols of the power of imagination.

Between art and kitsch

Born in Philadelphia in 1955, Koons wanted one thing above all: to become rich and famous. After studying art, he worked at the Museum of Modern Art and as a broker in New York for a few years starting in 1976, so that he could finance his works himself. Soon he created the first of his legendary Balloon Animals, and the shooting star of Neo-Pop Art was on the rise. The colorful 1980s came just at the right time for Koons, who cites Marcel Duchamps, Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, and of course Andy Warhol as the most important artists who inspired him. In his works, Jeff Koons processes everyday objects that often have a strong connection to childhood. He imitates them, alienates them, exaggerates them, sexualizes them, or groups them with advertisements, photographs, or comics to create large-scale collages. Since the auction of the stainless steel sculpture Rabbit in 2019, Jeff Koons is again the most expensive living artist.