A duct-taped banana sells for $6.2 million at an art auction

 

(Source: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP)

In November 2024, Maurizio Cattelan’s conceptual artwork Comedian—a banana duct-taped to a wall—sold for $6.2 million at Sotheby’s in New York. Originally debuting at Art Basel Miami in 2019, the piece sparked debate over its artistic merit and was even eaten by another artist during its initial showing. The recent buyer, Justin Sun, founder of the TRON cryptocurrency platform, purchased a certificate of authenticity allowing him to recreate the piece. He plans to eat the banana himself as part of the artistic experience. The auction drew intense attention, with bidding starting at $800,000 and quickly escalating. Sotheby’s praised Cattelan as a provocative figure in contemporary art. The sale occurred a day after René Magritte’s The Empire of Light fetched $121.2 million at Christie’s, placing Magritte among the elite artists whose works have sold for over $100 million. Both events highlight the evolving boundaries and value of modern art.

Read more: A duct-taped banana sells for $6.2 million at an art auction : NPR