Banana & tape artwork sells for whopping $6.2 million at auction

[Orange]

 

Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian is a piece of art that really knows how to split opinions—and now it has peeled away from the auction block for a staggering $6.2 million, six times its projected sale price.

 

Sold at Sotheby's in New York on November 20, 2024, the artwork’s price went well beyond its initial $1.5 million estimate, showing just how much cultural weight this fruity statement still carries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys)

 

 

First presented at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019, Comedian became an immediate viral hit. Whether you saw it as a clever commentary on consumerism or simply a joke in poor taste, the banana stuck to the wall with duct tape became a symbol of contemporary art's provocations. The piece comes with a certificate of authenticity and precise instructions for replacing the banana whenever nature takes its course—the value, after all, lies in the concept, not the perishable fruit.

 

The winning bid came from none other than Justin Sun, founder of the cryptocurrency platform Tron. Sun plans to pay in cryptocurrency and has hinted that he might eat the banana in a ceremonial fashion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys)

 

 

Back in 2019, editions of the work fetched between $120,000 and $150,000, making this latest sale a notable leap in value. With three official editions and two artist proofs, the artwork has proven its staying power, at least in terms of the collector's market.

 

Whether the fruit ends up eaten or replaced, it seems this piece will keep us talking for quite a while.

 

 

https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/sotheby-s-auction-banana-duct-tape-maurizio-cattelan-justin-sun-art-basel-miami-02231817

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/comedian-banana-duct-taped-to-wall-sothebys-auction/

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/20/arts/design/cattelan-banana-sothebys-auction.html