Jeff Koons, best known for his Balloon Dog sculptures that have sold for as much as $58 million, has collaborated with Lexon Design and The Broad museum in Los Angeles to make his iconic artworks more functional and accessible.
Available for preorder through Lexon’s website starting June 17th are a new 11-inch tall Balloon Dog Speaker and Balloon Dog Lamp that are each made from (an unspecified) “high-quality translucent material” that reveals the internal electronics that make each more than just a piece of art. Both are only being produced in a “limited supply” and each one will set you back $750 with shipping expected to start sometime in October 2025.
That is extremely expensive, and you’re definitely paying a premium because this is an official collaboration with Koons. But to Lexon’s credit, at least on paper, the company seems to have packed these with solid hardware. Inside the Balloon Dog Speaker are a total of “six ultra-precise active drivers and four finely tuned passive radiators” designed to deliver 360-degrees of “high-fidelity sound.” We haven’t had a chance to test the sound quality of those drivers, but that’s more than similarly-sized Bluetooth speakers that aren’t shaped like a novelty dog often utilize.
The speaker connects to mobile devices using Bluetooth 5.0, and with built-in microphones it can be used as a hands-free speakerphone. If you’ve got $1,500 burning a hole in your pocket, you can also pair two of the Balloon Dog Speakers to create a true stereo sound experience.
Inside the Balloon Dog Lamp you’ll find nearly 400 LEDs hidden in tubes that create the appearance of neon lighting. All combined, the LEDs can generate up to 200 lumens of brightness with color options that include warm and cool white light plus the full spectrum of color lighting. Although preorders are limited to just two of each piece, Lexon says its “Easy Sync technology” allows the lighting intensity and color of an “infinite number of Balloon Dog Lamps” to be synchronized so you can destroy your budget by filling a room, or your entire home, with matching illumination.
Source: The Verge
