Jeff Koons and Jean-Paul Agon to be Honored at 2016 Trophée des Arts Gala

NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, October 28, 2016, the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) will honor American artist Jeff Koons with the 2016 Trophée des Arts and L'Oréal Chairman & CEO Jean-Paul Agon with the 2016 Pilier d'Or at The Plaza hotel in New York.

"This year's honorees are pioneers and adventurers," explains FIAF President Marie-Monique Steckel. "There is no doubt that each honoree is a leader in beauty and exploration. Jeff Koons has reinvented contemporary art and created a conversation about new forms and ways to express artistic creation; Jean-Paul Agon has spent his career traveling the world for L'Oréal and exploring new expressions of beauty."

The 2016 Trophée des Arts Jeff Koons has long contributed to the cultural life in France. He presented his floral public sculpture, Split-Rocker at the Palais des Papes, Avignon, in 2000, and subsequently at the Château de Versailles, which opened its doors to a living artist for the first time with Jeff Koons: Versailles in 2008. Jeff Koons: A Retrospective was presented to great fanfare in 2015 at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.

Chairman and CEO of L'Oréal, Jean-Paul Agon is largely responsible for L'Oréal's success in the growing Asian and American markets. A man of action, he instills in the Group the energy, rigor and vision needed to tackle the challenges of the world of beauty products. With vigor and conviction, he channels that same passion into promoting L'Oréal's ethical values, making the company a model of corporate citizenship.

The Trophée des Arts distinguishes an artist who exemplifies FIAF's mission of French-American friendship and cross-cultural exchange. It has been bestowed upon French and American artists, including: Alain Ducasse, Françoise Gilot, Marc Jacobs, James Ivory, Angélique Kidjo, and Charlie Rose.

The Pilier d'Or recognizes a leading business figure, diplomat or philanthropist for outstanding contributions to the French-American community. Former honorees include Thierry Breton (ATOS), Paul Desmarais Jr. (Power Corporation of Canada), Carlos Ghosn (Renault-Nissan Alliance), and Alexandre de Juniac (former Chairman & CEO, Air France–KLM).

The annual FIAF Trophée des Arts gala will raise funds to support FIAF's educational and cultural programs and is co-chaired by Larry Gagosian, Kenneth M. Jacobs, William & Clémence Von Mueffling and Robert & Elisabeth G. Wilmers.

ABOUT THE 2016 TROPHÉE DES ARTS GALA

• What: 2016 Trophée des Arts Gala honoring Jeff Koons and Jean-Paul Agon
• When: Friday, October 28, 2016 at 7pm (cocktails) and 8pm (dinner)
• Where: The Plaza – Fifth Avenue and Central Park South

ABOUT FIAF
The French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) is New York's premiere French cultural and language center. FIAF's mission is to create and offer New Yorkers innovative and unique programs in education and the arts that explore the evolving diversity and richness of French cultures. FIAF seeks to generate new ideas and promote cross-cultural dialogue through partnerships and new platforms of expression. www.fiaf.org

SOURCE FIAF

Related Links

http://www.fiaf.org