01.06.2026 07:40
The artwork "Banana Taped to the Wall," valued at approximately $6.2 million and exhibited at the Centre Pompidou Museum in Metz, France, was stolen. The theft was discovered when a security guard noticed the banana was missing from its spot. Museum management filed a criminal complaint regarding the incident, and the stolen banana was quickly replaced with a new one, allowing the artwork to go back on display. Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan's piece, titled "Comedian," is among the most controversial works in the contemporary art world.
A 6.2 million dollar artwork titled "Banana Taped to a Wall" displayed at the Centre Pompidou Museum in Metz, France, was stolen by person or persons whose identity has not yet been determined.
The incident came to light when a security guard at the museum noticed that the banana in the artwork was missing. Upon notification, police teams arrived at the museum and launched an investigation.
BANANA REPLACED, ARTWORK RESTORED
In a statement issued by the museum management, it was announced that a criminal complaint had been filed on charges of "theft" regarding the incident. Authorities also stated that the banana, which is a part of the artwork, was replaced with a new one within a short time, and the artwork was once again presented for visitors' appreciation.
ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST TALKED-ABOUT ARTWORKS
The artwork, titled "Comedian" by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was first displayed at the Art Basel Miami art fair and caused a massive stir worldwide.
Consisting of a banana affixed to a wall with silver-colored tape, the artwork sparked long-standing debate in the art world. Two of the three copies of the artwork were sold for $120,000 each, while a price of $150,000 was set for the third version.
HAD BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT BEFORE
The works of Maurizio Cattelan, known for his satirical pieces, have previously come to the forefront due to unusual incidents. The artist's 18-karat gold toilet-shaped artwork named "America" was stolen from Blenheim Palace in England in 2019. The multi-million dollar artwork was widely discussed in the art world for a long time.