Duct-Taped Banana Art Fetches Millions at Sotheby’s

A banana duct-taped to a wall, an artwork created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, recently sold for $6.2 million at an auction held by Sotheby’s in New York. The sale price, significantly higher than the presale estimate of $1 million to $1.5 million, was achieved after a bidding contest that lasted a little over six minutes. The piece, titled «Comedian,» has sparked debates about contemporary art since its debut, with its potential impermanence being a key talking point.

Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun emerged as the highest bidder among six competitors for the piece. «In the coming days, I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience,» Sun was quoted saying, indicating an intention to become part of the artwork’s evolving narrative.

First unveiled in 2019 at Art Basel in Miami Beach, where it was sold for $120,000, «Comedian» has traveled internationally and continues to provoke discourse about art’s transient nature. The artwork includes instructions for replacing the banana as it rots, adding a layer of performance to its concept. Instances of the banana being replaced after consumption have occurred more than once, reinforcing its ephemeral yet repeatable nature.

The auction was part of Sotheby’s larger sale of ultra-contemporary and modern art, which garnered a total of $112.3 million, although it fell short of the presale estimate range of $108.4 million to $159 million. Despite this, notable transactions included Ed Ruscha’s «Georges’ Flag,» which sold for $13.6 million, the evening’s highest price. Other significant sales included works by Stuart Davis and Willem de Kooning, with Davis’ «Contradunities» achieving $12 million.

While some artworks met or exceeded their estimates, others struggled, including Jeff Koons‘ «Women in Tub,» which was estimated between $10 million to $15 million but failed to garner expected interest. Such variability highlights the current buyers’ market, where bidders are cautious with their spending limits, as noted by dealers observing the event.

Attendees of the auction were keen on capturing the event’s memorable moments, including the sale of