Banana Artwork Sells for $6.2 Million at Sotheby’s Auction

Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun buys Maurizio Cattelan’s conceptual piece, 'Comedian,' and plans to eat the banana as part of an artistic experience.

The artwork, titled 'Comedian,' features a single banana duct-taped to a wall and was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.
Justin Sun, a Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur, won the auction after a bidding war, paying $6.2 million, far exceeding the pre-sale estimate of $1 to $1.5 million.
The purchase includes a certificate of authenticity, installation instructions, and the right to reproduce the work with a replacement banana when the original rots.
Cattelan describes the piece as a commentary on the value of art and consumerism, while Sun claims it represents a cultural phenomenon connecting art, memes, and cryptocurrency.
Sun announced plans to eat the banana as part of a performance, continuing the artwork’s history of provoking discussion and public engagement.