Jeff Koons’s $33.6 Million “Tulips” Sculputure at Wynn Las Vegas

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The mysterious telephone bidder who payed $33.6 million for Jeff Koons’s”Tulips” – a large steel and chromium bouquet of multi-coloured tulips in November last year, setting a new auction record for the artist in the process, was actually been Stephen A. Wynn (Steve Wynn), the megacollector and casino mogul.   Now, a bouquet of twisted balloon flowers cast in steel and brought to a high mirror polish and plated in a vivid spectrum of color, will illuminate the Wynn Theater rotunda at Wynn Las Vegas. “Tulips”, a sculptural culmination of Koons’ Celebration series which consists of five unique versions, is one of the largest and most complex sculptures, that looks weightlessness but is paradoxically heavy, it uses more than 3 tons of sculpted steel. “Many people believe that Jeff Koons is one of the most important living artists on canvas and in sculpture in the world today,” said Steve Wynn. “I’m happy to be one of those people and particularly delighted to share with our guests his magnificent creation of the Tulips sculpture, which is now gracing the intersection of Wynn and Encore in our resort, near our showroom lobby. If you see them you will find the experience totally delicious.” Eventually, “Tulips” will go on view at Wynn’s new resort on the Cotai Strip of Macau, which is slated to be complete in early 2016. For now, though, “Tulips” is rotating on a turntable in the lobby of Wynn’s casinos in Las Vegas. Jeff Koons is one of the world’s most famous living artists and one who seems to be perpetually reinventing himself. Mr. Koons is known for his appreciation of American kitsch, from giant puppies made of flowers to stainless-steel rabbits. His “Tulips” sold for $33,682,500 at Christie’s New York in November last year, made him the world’s most expensive living artist. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH2-65qBn8Y[/youtube]