The Autumn/Winter 2021 issue with logo design by Jeff Koons
For our Autumn/Winter 2021 issue, we asked award-winning photographer David Taggart to capture Jeff Koons in a way that he’d never been photographed before. The portraits he produced are intimate and raw, revealing the man behind the world’s most expensive and controversial artist. Here, Taggart gives us an insight into the shoot, Koons’ studio and their conversations. All photography by David Taggart
1. What was your vision for the shoot"
To try and capture Jeff Koons in a way no other photographer had. Focus on authenticity. My style is very intimate and revealing. I wanted to try and capture Jeff in this style. When I got the studio and was setting up, I asked Jeff if he had seen my work. He said, yes. I asked if he was comfortable being portrayed in this style. He said, yes and that he was looking forward to the interpretation in my style. Follow LUX on Instagram: luxthemagazine
2. What is the Jeff Koons studio like"
Big. Lots of space. Lots of light. There is nothing intimate about his studio. It is a place where big productions occur. There were 20 – 30 assistants and others around.
Koons photographed in his Manhattan studio in 2021 with a work in progress.
3. Did you have a preconception of what Koons might be like before you met him, and how did that compare to the reality"
My perception of Koons was that he was stiff, and very concerned about his public image,...