Maurizio Cattelan’s Duct-Taped Banana Sells for $6.2M in NYC

Maurizio Cattelan’s viral artwork, Comedian—a banana duct-taped to a wall—has sold for an astonishing $6.2 million (£4.9 million) at Sotheby’s in New York, shattering pre-sale expectations that estimated its value at one-fourth of the final price.

The winning bid came from Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun, who outpaced six other bidders to secure the piece.

“In the coming days, I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience,” Sun declared after the auction.

The banana, purchased earlier for just $0.35, may now hold the title of one of the most expensive fruits ever sold.

From Viral Fame to Global Sensation

Comedian first made waves in 2019 when it was unveiled at Art Basel in Miami, sparking viral fascination and heated debates about the nature of art.

The installation includes instructions for replacing the banana once it inevitably rots, making the artwork as much about the concept as the fruit itself.

Over the years, Comedian has traveled worldwide, where it has sometimes been consumed as part of its evolving story.

• In 2023, a South Korean art student ate the banana during its display at Seoul’s Leeum Museum of Art. The museum promptly replaced the fruit, continuing the artwork’s cycle.
• In 2019, shortly after its debut, a performance artist similarly pulled the banana from the wall after it sold for $120,000. Again, it was quickly replaced without controversy.

A Buyer with Controversy

The latest buyer, Justin Sun, is the founder of the Tron blockchain network, a platform that facilitates cryptocurrency transactions. Sun has faced scrutiny in the past; in 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission accused him of fraud, alleging he artificially inflated the trading volume of Tron’s cryptocurrency token, TRX. Sun denies the charges.

Cattelan’s banana continues to challenge perceptions of art and value. Critics and enthusiasts alike debate whether Comedian is a symbol of modern art’s ingenuity or its absurdity.

For Justin Sun, the banana isn’t just art—it’s an experience. And in keeping with the artwork’s ever-evolving narrative, its fate will now include being consumed by its latest owner, adding yet another chapter to the story of Comedian.