A Duct-Taped Banana Art Piece Worth $1 Million

A banana duct-taped to a wall, titled Comedian by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, is set to go up for auction at Sotheby’s in New York on November 20 with an estimated value of $1 million to $1.5 million. The conceptual artwork, first displayed in 2019 at Art Basel Miami Beach, sparked a media frenzy and sold three editions for $120,000 to $150,000 each. While the original bananas have long since perished, the piece is sold with a certificate of authenticity allowing owners to recreate the installation.

Cattelan's Comedian has been described as both provocative and profound, challenging perceptions of art and value. Sotheby’s head of contemporary art, David Galperin, calls it a "mirror to the contemporary art world," questioning how art is defined and valued. Critics see deeper layers in the work, ranging from satire on the art market’s absurdities to commentary on the dark history of the banana as a symbol of imperialism and exploitation.