Cattelan: when the market supports conceptual art it goes bananas

Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian Fetches $6.2 Million at Auction: A Conceptual Art Phenomenon

The art world witnessed a sensational moment on November 20, 2024, when Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian, the now-iconic banana duct-taped to a wall, sold for $6.2 million at Sotheby’s “The Now and Contemporary Evening Auction.” The sale, which far exceeded its pre-sale estimate of $1–1.5 million, sparked intense reactions among both art insiders and casual observers. For those unfamiliar with the art market, the result may have seemed absurd, even shocking. Yet, for those who follow Cattelan’s disruptive career, it was an unsurprising extension of his provocative legacy.

A History of Disruption: Cattelan’s Legacy

Maurizio Cattelan has been upending expectations in the art world for decades. Known for his tongue-in-cheek approach, Cattelan’s works often blur the line between humor and critique, art and spectacle. From America, his fully functional 18-karat gold toilet, to Him, a controversial sculpture of a kneeling Adolf Hitler, Cattelan has built a reputation as a provocateur who challenges the boundaries of contemporary art. His works elicit strong emotional responses—whether fascination, laughter, or outrage—making him one of the most polarizing yet influential artists of his generation.

While Comedian has achieved cultural fame, it is far from Cattelan’s most valuable work at auction. In fact, the $6.2 million hammer price (including fees) places it as only the third-highest auction result in his career.

Cattelan’s Top Auction Results

1.Him (2001): Sold for $17.2 million in 2016 at Christie’s New York, Him is arguably Cattelan’s most controversial work. The hyper-realistic sculpture of a kneeling Adolf Hitler, portrayed as a small, childlike figure, evokes intense emotions and debates on history, guilt, and repentance.

2.Le Notte Bianche (1988): Fetching $10.1 million at Sotheby’s in 2019, this piece highlights Cattelan’s skill at blending humor and melancholy. The work, whose title translates to The White Nights, reflects on loneliness and existential uncertainty.

3.Comedian (2019): The $6.2 million sale in November 2024 confirms that Cattelan’s ability to spark dialogue extends even to the seemingly banal—a banana and duct tape. Its market success underscores the value of conceptual art as an intellectual rather than physical object.

Controversial Interpretation

From its debut, Comedian has been a lightning rod for controversy. Detractors argue that the work is little more than a cynical joke, with critics like Artnet calling it “one of the worst pieces of the week” in 2019. Others dismissed it as a gimmick, with USA Today humorously quipping, “This piece of art is bananas—literally.”

Yet, defenders of the piece highlight its conceptual depth. As Emmanuel Perrotin, the gallerist who exhibited Comedian, explained, the work is “a symbol of global trade, a double entendre, and a classic device for humor.” By turning something as mundane as a banana into a luxury item, Cattelan critiques consumer culture and the absurdity of the art market itself.

Performance artists have also tested the work’s boundaries. At Art Basel, Georgian artist David Datuna famously ate the banana in an act he dubbed Hungry Artist. Later incidents, such as a student eating the banana in South Korea because he was “hungry,” reinforced the work’s ephemerality and performative nature. These acts raise questions about ownership, authorship, and what defines the artwork itself—the physical object or the idea it represents.

Cultural Impact

The simplicity of Comedian has inspired countless interpretations and parodies. Designer Sebastian ErraZuriz taped a dildo to a wall with duct tape and listed it for $12,000. Brands joined the fray with their own takes—Popeyes Chicken taped a sandwich to a wall, while Absolut Vodka, Sweetgreen, and even the New York Mets created tributes. Actress Brooke Shields humorously taped a banana to her forehead and called it “an expensive selfie.”

These reactions underscore Comedian’s ability to transcend traditional art spaces and infiltrate pop culture. Critics have called it everything from “a commentary on contemporary art’s absurdity” to “a reflection of modern materialism.” The banana has become a symbol of how culture interprets and interacts with art, consumerism, and humor.

What’s Next for Comedian?

The $6.2 million sale of Comedian cements its legacy as more than just a viral sensation. It highlights the growing importance of conceptual art in the global market, with collectors willing to invest heavily in works that challenge traditional notions of value, permanence, and materiality.

Cattelan’s Comedian is a mirror reflecting the quirks and contradictions of the art market. For some, it epitomizes the absurdity of contemporary art, while for others, it represents the pinnacle of intellectual and cultural critique.

This latest auction ensures that Comedian will continue to spark conversation for years to come. Whether celebrated as a masterpiece or dismissed as a joke, it remains a defining artwork of the 21st century and a testament to Maurizio Cattelan’s genius for disruption.