From Banana to Golden Toilet – This Artist Is Breaking Barriers

The Italian provocateur Maurizio Cattelan, known for his cheeky art, went from hanging a banana on a wall to crafting a fully functional toilet in 18-karat solid gold called America.

This golden toilet wasn’t just about bling—it was a commentary on wealth, utility, and the absurd overlap of art and status.

Where It Sat, Where It Went

The toilet piece was originally exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum in New York: visitors could actually use it (yep) in a bathroom setting. In 2019, it was on display at Blenheim Palace in England, but was stolen in a daring heist. The thieves reportedly dismantled it and melted it down.

Why a Toilet? Why Gold?

• The flip from humble banana (in Comedian) to solid gold loo magnifies the question: How do we assign value to things?
• Cattelan reportedly said of the toilet: “Whatever you eat, a $200 lunch or a $2 hot dog, the results are the same, toilet-wise.” The idea being: utilities, symbols, money — they all get flushed in one way or another.
• The gold makes the utilitarian spectacle into a luxury spectacle — art becomes a commodity, plumbing becomes prestige.

What the Toilet Means for Art & Value

Moreover, the golden toilet puts the concept of art on the porcelain pedestal. The work isn’t just what you see, it’s what you can use, what you can steal, what you can melt down, and what you can auction for millions.

It forces us to ask: are we paying for craftsmanship, material (the gold), the brand (Cattelan), or the audacity of the idea? The piece blurs all these lines.

Cultural Ripples

• This piece, alongside the banana, shows how art markets sometimes value ideas over objects. The banana + tape sold for millions despite being replaceable.
• The theft of the golden toilet highlights the physical risk of turning everyday objects into ultra-valuable commodities.
• The bathroom setting disrupts the formal gallery vibe — it’s a reminder that context gives meaning.

His Work Before the Toilet

Additionally, Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan created the Comedian piece in 2019: a fresh banana affixed to a gallery wall with silver duct tape. What followed was explosive: the artwork’s edition sold at auction in 2024 for over $6 million.

Moreover, Cattelan calls the piece a “provocation” aimed at questioning how we value art, style, and spectacle. The artwork itself comes with a certificate of authenticity, instructions to replace the banana as it perishes, and free rein to redefine what “art” can be.

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