Duct-Taped Banana Sells For $6.2 Million At Art Auction

New York: A piece of conceptual art consisting of a banana duct-taped to a wall sold for $6.2 million at an auction in New York on Wednesday.

“Comedian,” by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was a phenomenon when it debuted in 2019 at Art Basel Miami Beach, as festivalgoers tried to make out wher single yellow piece of fruit affixed to a white wall with silver duct tape was a joke or cheeky commentary on questionable standards among art collectors. At one point anor artist took banana off wall and ate it.

piece attracted so much attention that it h to be withdrawn from view, but three editions sold for between $120,000 and $150,000, according to gallery handling sales at time.

Five years later, someone has now paid more than 40 times that higher price point at Soby’s auction. Or, more accurately, y have purchased a certificate of aunticity that gives m authority to duct-tape a banana to a wall and call it “Comedian.”

Bidding started at $800,000 and within minutes shot up to $2 million, n $3 million, n $4 million, as auctioneer joked, “It’s slipping through auction room.” final hammer price announced in room was $5.2 million, which didn't include about $1 million in auction house fees, paid by buyer.

sale came a day after a painting by Belgian surrealist René Magritte sold for $121.2 million, a record for artist, at a separate auction.