The Iconic Banana Artwork “Comedian” by Maurizio Cattelan to Hit Auction Block
The infamous banana duct-taped to a white wall, known as Maurizio Cattelan’s “Comedian,” is set to be auctioned next month with an estimated selling price of over $1 million, as announced by Sotheby’s on October 24.
Originally displayed at Gallery Perrotin’s booth during Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019, “Comedian” garnered attention when it sold three editions for up to $150,000 each. Its journey since then has been marked by two incidents of the artwork being eaten, a donation to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum collection, and numerous recreations on social media.
On November 20, “Comedian” will be up for auction at Sotheby’s Now and Contemporary Evening Auction in New York, alongside works by renowned artists like Jasper Johns and Cy Twombly. The pre-sale estimate for the artwork is set at $1 million to $1.5 million.
David Galperin, Sotheby’s head of Contemporary Art, Americas, emphasized the significance of “Comedian” in Cattelan’s body of work, noting that some of the artist’s pieces have fetched as much as $17 million at auctions. Galperin stated that the estimate serves as a starting point and reflects the high value associated with Cattelan’s iconic works.
Cattelan himself described “Comedian” as a commentary on societal values in a 2021 interview. The Italian artist is known for his satirical creations, including the 18-karat gold toilet sculpture “America” and the installation “Daddy, Daddy” depicting Pinocchio’s demise.
The buyer of “Comedian” will receive a certificate of authenticity, installation instructions, a roll of tape, and a banana. Sotheby’s assured that the banana and duct tape can be replaced as needed.
