Anna Banana, the conceptual artist known for her pioneering work in mail art, performance, and alternative publishing, passed away on November 29 at the age of 84 in Roberts Creek, British Columbia, Canada. Her innovative practices and global collaborations have left a lasting impact on the art world.
Anna Banana, born Anne Lee Long on February 24, 1940, in Victoria, British Columbia, earned her nickname while teaching at Vancouver’s experimental New School in 1968. After a serendipitous encounter with a box of bananas at a party in Big Sur in 1970, she embraced the moniker and legally changed her name to Anna Banana in 1985.
Transitioning from textile art to more participatory forms in the 1970s, Banana launched the absurdist Banana Rag in 1971, connecting her to the International Mail Art Network. She later moved to San Francisco, where she published VILE magazine and operated Banana Productions, publishing the International Art Post. Her essay “Women in Mail Art” in Correspondence Art highlighted the contributions of women in the field.
Anna Banana’s work focused on community building through mail art and performance, engaging with themes of global trade and cultural iconography. Her playful use of the banana as a symbol predated the recent market frenzy surrounding Maurizio Cattelan’s “Comedian” artwork. Banana’s legacy lies in her ability to create both persona and community, both physically and conceptually.
Her retrospective exhibition “Anna Banana: 45 Years of Fooling Around with A. Banana” at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria in 2015 showcased her extensive archive and commitment to sharing her art with the public. Last year, she was featured in “Copy Machine Manifestos: Artists Who Make Zines” at the Brooklyn Museum.
Anna Banana’s impact extended beyond her artistic practice; she was known for her intense, humorous, and direct communication style. Her archive is housed at the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery at the University of British Columbia. She is survived by her daughter, Dana Long.
In January 2025, ChertLĂĽdde in Berlin will exhibit a selection of Banana’s mailings alongside works by Ruth Wolf-Rehfeldt and Vincent Trasov. Banana’s presence in the art world will continue to enrich and inspire future generations.
