The Iconic Banana Artwork âComedianâ by Maurizio Cattelan to Hit Auction Block
The infamous banana duct-taped to a white wall, known as Maurizio Cattelanâs âComedian,â is set to be auctioned next month with an estimated selling price of over $1 million, as announced by Sothebyâs on October 24.
Originally displayed at Gallery Perrotinâs booth during Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019, âComedianâ 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, âComedianâ will be up for auction at Sothebyâs 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, Sothebyâs head of Contemporary Art, Americas, emphasized the significance of âComedianâ in Cattelanâs body of work, noting that some of the artistâs 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 Cattelanâs iconic works.
Cattelan himself described âComedianâ 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 âAmericaâ and the installation âDaddy, Daddyâ depicting Pinocchioâs demise.
The buyer of âComedianâ will receive a certificate of authenticity, installation instructions, a roll of tape, and a banana. Sothebyâs assured that the banana and duct tape can be replaced as needed.
 
					
 
			 
                             