In November 2013, Jeff Koons broke the record for the highest-selling work by a living artist when his Balloon Dog (Orange) went for US$58.4 million at auction. Last year he did it again with Rabbit at $91.1 million. His sculptures have been notorious ‘tycoon trophies’ since the ‘90s, and his balloon dogs are studded throughout personal and public collections around the world.
But the last ‘Koons’ you saw probably wasn’t one.
If the shiny dog was squatting down to leave a little (balloon) parcel behind it, you were looking at POPek, baby of Polish-born London-based artist Sebastian Burdon—AKA, Whatshisname. Burdon’s creations aim to poke fun at everything from Koons to the gallery bubble to culture in general, to disconcert and delight the viewer. He calls it ‘joyful pop art’.
Burdon renders POPek in several poses, each released in limited editions of varying sizes, materials and colours. His growing family of Balloon Dogs, which he’s christened POPIKI, now includes PEEPek (complete with polyresin puddle) and HUMPek (two dogs, well, humping). And he’s not just after the art world: last year’s ‘Brexit Balloon Dogs’ got busy on a plinth asking ‘Who humps whom?’
Collectors can buy Burdon’s work as both prints and fibreglass sculptures, and for a lot less than US$58.4 million.
We are thrilled to introduce Dog-Friendly, a collection of city guides for dog-loving people, created together with our long-time contributor, photographer Winnie Au, and fellow enthusiasts, indie publisher Hoxton Mini Press. Available for purchase here.
August 25, 2021
Have you ever imagined Amy Winehouse or Nick Cave as a Chihuahua, Neil Young as a Vizsla, or PJ Harvey as an Afghan hound? That’s exactly what San Francisco-based artist Michael Gillette has done through his unique illustration project, blending beloved, iconic music legends, both past and present, with their dog counterparts. Pack of Dogs, our first foray into book publishing, is a celebration of pup and pop culture for music and dog lovers alike.
August 25, 2020
Martin Usborne is a photographer, writer, publisher, and artist whose work taps at tension between humans and animals. Here, we learn how.
March 25, 2022
Artist Geoff McFetridge with Sweetie and Foxy (from the boxy): on wild animals and imaginary pals.
March 11, 2022
Photographer Carlos Sanva explores the way humans project themselves onto pit bulls, and what that means from a social point of view.
February 25, 2022
For years, photographer Dietmar Busse took portraits in his New York City apartment. One day, along came a dog.
February 16, 2022
Nadin Maria Rüfenacht’s eerie, David Lynch-like photographs are a triumph to behold.
January 21, 2022
Get into flow, wind down, and refresh your hound’s wardrobe with Cloud7 x Lana Grossa knitting kits.
December 22, 2021
Meet the Berlin-based studio railing against fast fashion and exploitation.
December 9, 2021
Fotographiska’s exhibition is a paean to pets and their place in our hearts and our history.
November 30, 2021