Global apparel retailer Uniqlo announced the launch of its first UT (Uniqlo T-shirt) collaboration collection with artist Jeff Koons, the American master who, for more than 40 years, has continued to produce some of the world’s most impactful and influential contemporary artworks. The new Uniqlo T-shirt collection will focus on five of his iconic sculptures, expressed in the refined graphic style of UT. Items will be available in the Philippines from Monday, November 8.
Commenting on the collaboration, Jeff Koons says, “I enjoy very much how Uniqlo is in contact with my generation but also a younger generation. Everybody enjoys, very much, their clothing and I love that sense of unity. I hope that this collaboration will help people around the world to connect and that art will enrich their daily lives.“
“At Uniqlo, our support and collaboration with artists is our key wish to improve all people’s lives. Jeff Koons represents the positive power of art and its ability to transform who we are and the world around us. Jeff Koons is a source of imagination and commitment and we are extremely proud of our partnership,” says John C. Jay, President of Global Creative at Uniqlo.
The collection features images of five sculptures by Jeff Koons including Rabbit and Balloon Dog (Orange), which are among the 20th century’s most iconic artworks. The artworks selected for this collaboration celebrate the themes of self-acceptance, empowerment, and transcendence. The eight items that comprise this collection will also be sold at the Qatar Museums IN-Q gift shop during the solo exhibition Jeff Koons: Lost in America, presented by Qatar Museums, which opens in Doha this November.
Born in 1955, in York, Pennsylvania, Jeff Koons is a contemporary artist based in New York. Since his first solo exhibition in 1980, his works have been exhibited in major museums, galleries, and cultural institutions around the world, including Rockefeller Center, the Palace of Versailles, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. He has received numerous awards and honors in recognition of his cultural achievements. Koons is also known as a philanthropist; over the last four decades, he has been involved with many causes while also serving on the board of the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC). The solo exhibition Jeff Koons: Lost in America presented by Qatar Museums will take place at the QM Gallery, Al Riwaq, in Doha starting November 21 through March 31, 2022. The exhibition will present more than 60 works, including the sculptures Balloon Dog (Orange), Rabbit, and Play-Doh featured in this collaboration. All eight items from the UT collection will be available for sale at the Qatar Museums IN-Q gift shop during the event (with a Balloon Dog (Orange) T-shirt offered in a unique color only available in Doha).
The Uniqlo UT Jeff Koons Collection drops on November 8 and will be available at UNIQLO Manila Global Flagship Store, and the uniqlo.com online store. To know more, visit https://www.uniqlo.com/ph/en/spl/ut-collection/jeff-koons
