A Taped Banana Sold for $6.2 Million at Art Basel — Then the Buyer Ate It

In 2019, Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan presented "Comedian" at Art Basel Miami: a fresh banana duct-taped to a gallery wall. It was offered for $120,000. It sold within hours. Three editions were produced.

Then in 2024, "Comedian" was auctioned at Sotheby's for $6.2 million to crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun. He paid in Tron cryptocurrency. He then ate the banana at a press conference, calling it "much better than other bananas."

What You're Actually Buying

The artwork is not the banana. The artwork is a certificate of authenticity with detailed instructions. The buyer receives:

• A signed certificate of authenticity
• Detailed installation instructions specifying the angle of the duct tape (37° from the floor)
• The right to display the work whenever they choose
• Permission to replace the banana whenever it rots

The banana itself is meant to be replaced. The buyer can use any banana from any grocery store. The conceptual artwork is permanent; the physical material is disposable.

Critical Reception

"Comedian" became one of the most-discussed and most-mocked artworks of the 21st century. Defenders argue it is a brilliant commentary on the absurdity of the contemporary art market. Detractors call it the perfect example of that absurdity. Cattelan himself has refused to clarify which interpretation is correct — and that ambiguity is, perhaps, the point.

Has It Been Eaten Before?

Yes. In 2019, performance artist David Datuna ate the original Art Basel banana, calling his act "Hungry Artist." The gallery simply replaced the banana. The artwork was unaffected.