Banana Taped To Wall Sells For $6.2 Million: Report

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY – A Dole banana purchased at an Upper East Side fruit stand for 35 cents became valuable art this week after it was sold for $6.2 million at Sotheby’s on Wednesday night, according to the New York Times.

The banana, duct-taped to a wall, is artist Maurizio Cattelan’s conceptual artwork “Comedian,” supposedly a satirical poke at the excesses of the art market. It includes a certificate of authenticity, as well as “installation instructions” for replacing the work’s banana whenever it rots, should its owner choose to do so.

But what about the duct tape?

'I Will Personally Eat The Banana'

Cattelan first debuted “Comedian” in 2019 at Art Basel Miami Beach, where it was eaten by a performance artist. At the time, three “editions” were sold for $120,000 to $150,000 each. Wednesday's sale took place at Sotheby’s Upper East Side gallery on York Avenue, where bidding began at $800,000.

Justin Sun, who purchased “Comedian,” is a cryptocurrency “entrepreneur” who currently faces Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charges in which actress Lindsay Lohan, artist Akon, and YouTuber/boxer Jake Paul are also implicated.

“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,” he told the Times. Another man who competed in the auction reportedly said he had hoped to give the banana to Elon Musk.

It's not the first time that Cattelan's work has produced a spectacle in the neighborhood, and the artist is also known for the golden toilet he installed at the Guggenheim in 2016.