Here’s a Banana and Duct Tape for You—Use Your Own Wall for $1.5M!

Photo: Twitter/Mark Oldman

The art world really has gone bananas. Five years after Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan created his viral work, Comedian—a simple banana duct-taped to a wall—it’s now back in the spotlight. But this time, it’s not just for a laugh. Sotheby’s is preparing to auction it off in New York next month, with estimates suggesting a potential sale price of an incredible $1.5 million!

So what do you actually get for that jaw-dropping price? Well, it’s not the original banana, and Cattelan won’t be arriving to personally set it up for you. The lucky buyer will instead receive:

• A certificate of authenticity: This is essentially your golden ticket, proving that you own Comedian and have the right to display it.
• Instructions for display: The specific guidance on how high to place the banana, how much duct tape to use, and perhaps even the ideal angle for the best comedic effect.
• A new banana and duct tape roll: Yes, you read that right. The actual “art” you’re buying is the concept—so you’ll need to replace the banana whenever it starts to brown, keeping it fresh and photo-ready.

It’s a bold statement about art and value. Some might argue that the true genius lies in the absurdity, while others see it as a critique of the art market itself. For the price of Comedian, you’re not really purchasing a fruit or a piece of tape; you’re buying a moment of cultural commentary, one that leaves you wondering about the line between the priceless and the downright laughable.

And yet, maybe there’s a bit of brilliance behind the bananas. What started as a simple joke has turned into a worldwide phenomenon, capturing imaginations and pocketbooks alike. Maurizio Cattelan’s work dares us to laugh, think, and—if we’re willing to pay—to tape up a banana on our very own wall.