Jeff Koons’ $20 million balloon sculpture becomes the priciest gift to the National Gallery of Australia after donation by Steve Shelley

A sculpture by Jeff Koons estimated at more than $20 million may have become the most expensive single gift ever received by the National Gallery of Australia.

The American artist’s Balloon Venus Dolni Vestonice (Yellow) 2013-17, a 2.7-metre high stainless steel sculpture inspired by a palaeolithic figurine, has been gifted to the Canberra institution by Steve Shelley, co-founder of tech unicorn Deputy. He had loaned it to NGA since 2019.

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