Trade fair visitor pushes glass sculpture by Jeff Koons

A collector accidentally knocked over a glass sculpture by famed artist Jeff Koons at an art fair in the United States, destroying the Balloon Dog, which is estimated to be worth $42,000.

He saw the woman knock against the shiny blue sculpture, then the work of art suddenly tipped over and "shattered into a thousand pieces," artist Stephen Gamson told a US television station.

Gamson said it felt like the woman was tapping to see if it was a real balloon. Other visitors reportedly initially thought the sculpture destruction at Miami's Art Wynwood art fair was a performance. Video taken by a visitor shows employees sweeping up the broken glass.

An expert told the Miami Herald newspaper that the visitor did not intentionally destroy the sculpture and the damage was covered by insurance.

The painter and sculptor Jeff Koons draws inspiration for his work from everyday objects such as balloon animals. His balloon dog is available in various sizes, from around 30 centimeters to ten meters in height.