Banana artwork stolen from French museum in latest incident
A banana attached to a wall as part of Maurizio Cattelan’s conceptual artwork Comedian was stolen from a museum in eastern France on May 30. Security staff at the Centre Pompidou-Metz noticed the disappearance during routine monitoring of the exhibition space. The museum later confirmed the theft and filed a formal complaint against an unidentified individual.
The artwork forms part of the exhibition Endless Sunday, which presents Cattelan’s work alongside pieces from the Centre Pompidou collection. Museum officials stated that the banana was quickly replaced to restore the installation to its original presentation. They said the act disrupted the visitor experience and undermined respect for exhibited works. Authorities have opened an investigation, but no suspect has been identified.
The incident adds to a series of disruptions surrounding Comedian since its debut. In 2019, the banana was eaten during an Art Basel Miami Beach performance. In 2023, a student consumed the fruit at the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul. A similar act also occurred at the same French venue in 2025 shortly after an exhibition opened, with no legal action taken at the time.
Cattelan’s work relies on a conceptual framework in which the banana is routinely replaced while the certification and installation protocol define its authenticity. One edition of Comedian sold at Sotheby’s in 2024 for 6.24 million dollars, far above initial estimates. The artist has described the piece as a reflection on value systems and the mechanics of the art market.
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