Lady Gaga goes completely nude on ARTPOP album cover... but keeps her modesty as it's a Jeff Koons sculpture

By Shyam Dodge

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At first glance it seems Lady Gaga has shed her inhibitions on her risqué new album cover, posing nude as she clutches her bare breasts.

Except the image on the cover of Lady Gaga's new album ARTPOP is not actually her, but an artistic representation of the singer by the highly regarded artist Jeff Koons.

The 27-year-old unveiled the new artwork on Twitter with a series of posts revealing that the provocative nude is a sculpture she commissioned specifically for her forthcoming album, on Monday.

Statuesque: Lady Gaga revealed the cover for her new album PopArt via Twitter on Monday

Statuesque: Lady Gaga revealed the cover for her new album PopArt via Twitter on Monday

The star, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, began the day by teasing her fans.

 

The Applause singer tweeted: 'I'm nervous&excited to share something that's such a piece of my heart. Something I cherish deeply.'

She went on to provide a countdown: 'Album cover can be unlocked in 30 min by trending #iHeartARTPOP !'

Tired out: Lady Gaga shared a photo on Instagram saying she was tired and proud of ARTPOP

Tired out: Lady Gaga shared a photo on Instagram saying she was tired and proud of ARTPOP

A Venus in her own right: Gaga, performing in London at the beginning of September, has been working her goddess look for her forthcoming album

A Venus in her own right: Gaga, performing in London at the beginning of September, has been working her goddess look for her forthcoming album

Gaga then endearingly admitted her own nervousness: 'I'll be in the bathroom throwing up'.

Minutes later she unveiled the cover art with the caption: 'FULL ARTPOP ALBUM COVER.'

Adding: 'One second I'm a Koons, then suddenly the Koons is me!'

Then by way of explanation she wrote: 'Please welcome Jeff Koons into our family [plus] shower him with love for the the talents he has shared with us. A pure and genuine collaborator.'

Not the first time: The 27-year-old posed nearly completely nude for her 2010 album cover for Remix

Not the first time: The 27-year-old posed nearly completely nude for her 2010 album cover for Remix

Her final message revealed that the image of her naked was in fact a sculpture created by pop artist Jeff Koons, who famously immortalised Michael Jackson and his pet chimpanzee Bubbles with a similar sculpture in 1988.

The fragmented collage art surrounding Gaga's nude bust on the album cover appears to be made of cut outs from Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, painted in 1486.

The Roman goddess originally represented love, beauty, sex, and fertility - and Gaga seems to be dressing the part during her performances and the music video for her single Applause.

Taking the big hair on the road: Gaga has taken to wearing her Venus wig on and off the stage, pictured going to dinner last month in West Hollywood

Taking the big hair on the road: Gaga has taken to wearing her Venus wig on and off the stage, pictured going to dinner last month in West Hollywood

Seeming to mimic the large windblown hair and seashell themes of the classic painting, Gaga's costume for Applause - both in her stage performances and in the official video - features a large wig and a clamshell bikini.

The motifs could represent an underlying thematic message regarding sex and empowerment for the forthcoming album.

Either way, Gaga has clearly made the painting of Venus a theme both in her style and cover art for ARTPOP.

The balloons: Some of Koons' most famous work on display at the Gagosian New York on May 9

The balloons: Some of Koons' most famous work on display at the Gagosian New York on May 9

He's done it before: Koons' sculpture of Michael Jackson and Bubbles made headlines in 1988

He's done it before: Koons' sculpture of Michael Jackson and Bubbles made headlines in 1988

Inspiration: The album cover for ARTPOP features cut outs from Botticelli's The Birth Of Venus from 1486

Inspiration: The album cover for ARTPOP features cut outs from Botticelli's The Birth Of Venus from 1486

Another image on the album cover is a blue ball, that is strategically placed to protect the Poker Face singer's modesty.

According to MTV.com the entire sculpture, including Gaga, is made from white plaster and is part of Koons' ongoing series called Gazing Ball.

The release date for ARTPOP is scheduled for November 11.

Her collaborator: Artist Jeff Koons pictured at the Met Ball Gala in New York, in May

Her collaborator: Artist Jeff Koons pictured at the Met Ball Gala in New York, in May




The comments below have not been moderated.

Oh my God can they go any further in the fight to be the most sensational? What will be next ? Xrays? Colonoscopy film footage?

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I really like it, it's not overtly sexual like Miley and Rihanna. It makes me laugh that people find this offensive, but The Birth of Venus, which is what the cover is based on, is tasteful, even though more flesh is on show! My God, kids are dying in wars, and you are all offended by a naked body.

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While I think his art is interesting, his team really deserves some credit. He has a "vision" and someone else actually physically creates it.

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Art? LOL

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ughhh whyy, its a sculpture its artistic its not like her full body is exposed, would you rather another generic common boring pretty face on an album cover with a title? no.

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I LOVE IT!! Beautimous

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The gag really is as rough as a badgers asre. Get dressed fgs.

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I smply cannot stand all the 'haters gonna hate' tripe. It's such a dumb, immature expression.

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The people you are addressing probably don't know what the word tripe means.

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sheep intestines

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I think it's a cracking cover! Can't wait for the album!

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Nearly every singer/celeb is naked nowadays... quit boring

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