Banana Duct-Taped to Wall Sells for $6.2 Million at Sotheby’s Auction

A banana duct taped to a wall by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan has sold for $6.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York, far surpassing the expected value. The piece, titled ‘Comedian’, was initially unveiled in 2019 at Art Basel Miami Beach and became an instant sensation, drawing global attention to the intersection of art, absurdity, and value.

At the auction, the bidding began at $800,000, and after intense competition, the final hammer price reached $5.2 million with an additional $1 million in auction fees. 

Auctioneer Oliver Barker remarked, “Don’t miss this opportunity,” and jokingly added, “These are words I’ve never thought I’d say: Five million dollars for a banana.” 

The sale price of $6.2 million shattered expectations, exceeding the $120,000 to $150,000 range fetched for similar editions in 2019. 

  Justin Sun

Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun was the winner, who outbid six other rivals. Sun, the founder of the TRON blockchain network, later commented, “This piece represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community.”

Sun added, “Additionally, in the coming days, I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience, honoring its place in both art history and popular culture.” 

The installation of ‘Comedian’ has traveled the world and continues to captivate audiences, despite its unconventional nature. The banana itself, being perishable, is expected to be replaced when it rots, as per the artist’s instructions. 

This has led to some bizarre moments in the past: in 2019, another artist removed and ate the banana after it sold for $120,000, and in 2023, a South Korean art student did the same at a display in Seoul. 

Sotheby’s described Cattelan as “among contemporary art’s most brilliant provocateurs,” and the piece continues to spark debate about the nature of art and its value. 

David Galperin, Sotheby’s head of contemporary art in the Americas, called Comedian “a defiant work of pure genius.” The auction came a day after a René Magritte painting set a record at Christie’s, highlighting the high-profile nature of the week’s events. 

Justin Sun oversees the Tron blockchain network, which supports various cryptocurrency transactions. Last year, the US Securities and Exchange Commission accused him of fraud, alleging that he had artificially inflated the trading volumes of TRX, the cryptocurrency token of Tron. Mr. Sun has denied the allegations.