Jeff Koons: ‘Venus’ Lespugue

After presenting Cindy Sherman and Marlene Dumas, the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens now presents the uniquely American artist Jeff Koons: “Venus” Lespugue, featuring the first public display of Balloon Venus Lespugue (Orange) (2013–2019). On view this spring and summer in the museum’s contemporary wing, the Stathatos Mansion, the exhibition explores the enduring power of the Venus figure, from the Paleolithic era to today. Koons’s monumental sculpture, inspired by the 28,000-year-old Venus of Lespugue- on show in Paris- transforms the figurine’s iconic curves into a towering, mirror-polished balloon form, blending ancient symbolism with contemporary spectacle.

The sculpture is shown alongside ten replica Venus figurines from the Upper Paleolithic, highlighting early humanity’s fascination with fertility, survival, and continuity. Drawn from the Homem Sonnabend Collection and accompanied by a new publication with essays by Koons and leading scholars, the exhibition creates a bold dialogue between the ancient and the modern.

Located near Athens’ Museum Mile, the Stathatos Mansion hosts temporary exhibitions that bring major international artists into conversation with Cycladic and Greek heritage, offering fresh perspectives on timeless forms and ideas.