Last night at Sotheby’s, Maurizio Cattelan’s artwork Comedian (2019) sold for a staggering $6.2 million, including fees. The artwork—a real banana duct-taped to a wall—captured global attention upon its debut at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019, immediately going viral and questioning the boundaries of art and commerce.
The sale far exceeded its pre-auction estimate of $1 million–$1.5 million, underscoring the enduring allure of conceptual provocations in the art market. Seven bidders competed fiercely for the work, which had traveled to nine cities—including London, Tokyo, and Dubai—on a pre-sale tour. Its New York exhibition attracted more than 12,000 visitors in just two weeks, cementing its status as a contemporary art icon.
The piece was acquired by Justin Sun, a Chinese entrepreneur and founder of the cryptocurrency platform TRON, whose winning bid was placed via Sotheby’s deputy chairman for Asia. “This is not just an artwork; it represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community,” he said. Sun previously identified himself as the underbidder on Beeple’s Everydays—The First 5,000 Days (2021)——which went on to fetch $69.3 million (including fees) at Christie’s in 2021. At that time it was the most expensive NFT sold at auction.
Prior to the sale, the auction house confirmed that it would accept cryptocurrency as payment for the artwork, and Sun confirmed that he paid in crypto for the work. He also said that he intends to eat the banana once he receives it. “I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience, honoring its place in both art history and popular culture,” he added.
The work was also eaten when it was first exhibited at Perrotin’s booth at Art Basel Miami Beach 2019, as a stunt by performance artist David Datuna. There, the gallery sold three editions of the work for between $120,000-$150,000. One edition is currently in the collection of the Guggenheim.
Interest in the artwork had spawned two “memecoins” in the lead-up to the sale: $BAN (which was started by Sotheby’s employee Michael Bouhanna) and $BTW. The speculation on these coins reflects the intense interest and widespread appeal of the work.
At the Sotheby’s auction, this interest was evident in the fierce competition between the different bidders. “Don’t let it slip away,” cautioned auctioneer Oliver Barker, with a cheeky smile. He was met by groans from the crowd.
