Jeff Koons is an American artist known for his controversial and provocative artworks. Born in 1955 in York, Pennsylvania, Koons studied art and art history at the University of Pennsylvania before continuing his studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Koons began his artistic career in the 1980s by producing conceptual and subversive artworks that gained the attention of critics and the general public. Among his most famous works are the "Rabbit" series, which consists of an inflatable glass replica of a rabbit, and the "Made in Heaven" series, which features erotic and provocative images. Throughout his career, Koons has exhibited his works in many prestigious galleries and museums around the world, including the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. His works are part of private and public collections worldwide and have sold for record prices at auctions. In addition to his artistic career, Koons is also known for his philanthropic activities and his commitment to social and environmental causes. He is currently considered one of the most important and influential contemporary artists in the world.