The artwork, titled “Encased – Four Rows,” is a creation by Jeff Koons, an artist associated with the Neo-Pop and Conceptual Art movements. This piece, crafted between 1983 and 1993, employs the medium of ready-made objects and glass. Categorized as a sculpture, this artwork exemplifies the principles and aesthetics of its respective art movements.
“Encased – Four Rows” features a transparent glass case housing four rows of boxed basketballs. The uniform arrangement of the basketballs creates a structured, grid-like visual. Each box contains a single basketball bearing recognizable sports brands, meticulously organized to emphasize both the objects and the enclosure. The presentation highlights the intersection of consumer culture and art, a characteristic theme in Koons’ work. The reflective quality of the glass adds an element of depth and interaction, encouraging viewers to contemplate the relationship between the everyday objects and their artistic context. Each element in the artwork is pristine and seemingly untouched, evoking themes of commodification and the elevation of mundane items to art status.