A humble banana sold at a New York fruit stand has become the centerpiece of a $5.2 million art transaction, sparking debate about the intersection of absurdity, wealth, and the art world. The banana, which was purchased for just 35 cents from Shah Alam’s stand outside Sotheby’s auction house, became part of a conceptual artwork by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, known for his provocative and often controversial pieces.
On November 20, the banana, taped to a wall as part of Cattelan’s work titled Comedian, was auctioned off to cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun for an astonishing $5.2 million, plus over $1 million in auction house fees. The sale, which has since captured widespread attention, was part of a growing trend where the value of art is as much about spectacle as substance.
For Shah Alam, who has worked at the fruit stand for years, the outcome was nothing short of surreal. Alam, who hails from Bangladesh, sells dozens of bananas daily for 35 cents each. When he learned what had become of the fruit he had sold, his reaction was a mix of shock and disbelief. “I am a poor man,” Alam, 74, said, his voice trembling. “I have never had this kind of money; I have never seen this kind of money.”
This banana’s journey to fame began in 2019, when Cattelan first exhibited Comedian at Art Basel Miami Beach. The piece, which features a banana duct-taped to a wall, is both a statement on the absurdity of the art market and a critique of how art is valued. Initially sold for between $120,000 and $150,000 per edition, the piece sparked debates after a performance artist ripped one of the bananas from the wall and ate it, further fueling the conversation on the nature of art.
When the banana was sold at Sotheby’s in November, bidding began at $800,000, rapidly climbing above $5 million in just five minutes. Karina Sokolovsky, a spokesperson for Sotheby’s, confirmed that Alam’s banana was the one sold, sourced directly from his stand. A week after the sale, Sun, the buyer, ate the banana at a news conference, adding another layer of intrigue to the already bizarre transaction.
Though Cattelan did not receive compensation from the Sotheby’s auction, he expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, noting that the price was an extension of the absurdity that originally surrounded the piece. “The auction has turned what began as a statement in Basel into an even more absurd global spectacle,” Cattelan remarked.
In a twist, Sun later announced his intention to buy 100,000 bananas from Alam’s stand for $25,000. However, Alam explained that such a large purchase would only yield a net profit of around $6,000, much of which would go to the stand’s owner, Mohammad R. Islam. Alam’s thoughts turned to the disparity between his life and the art world’s lavish wealth. “Those who bought it, what kind of people are they?” he asked. “Do they not know what a banana is?”
Cattelan responded to Alam’s reflection with empathy, acknowledging the emotional impact of the banana’s sale. “The reaction of the banana vendor moves me deeply, underscoring how art can resonate in unexpected and profound ways,” he said. “However, art, by its nature, does not solve problems—if it did, it would be politics.”
Despite the fortune the banana fetched, Alam’s life remains unchanged. He still works long hours at the fruit stand, where the price remains the same: four bananas for a dollar. To him, the joke of Comedian feels more like a reflection of his own struggle rather than a celebration of art’s power. In his world, the price of art and the price of a banana still come down to the same simple equation: four bananas for a dollar.
