Can whimsical art be taken seriously?

Looking at Art:

The bronze sculptures by Jeff Koons which are designed to resemble balloon animals made him famous. He has also created monumental animal sculptures out of topiary plants. I love these pieces and looking at them always make me feel good. Is this serious fine art? I like to think so. What do you think?

Work in the studio:

My recent sculpture has become a series of abstractions that appear to be related in form, texture and color treatment although each is unique. My earlier work was often quite realistic, based on faces and figures. The latest sculpture, shown here, is a combination of both the early style and the latest work. This one is far more whimsical than most of the other pieces. It was a pleasant break from formal and serious sculpture to something more fun.

A Full House, Ceramic Sculpture, 10” x 5” x7”