A fully functional 18-karat solid gold toilet by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan fetched an astonishing $12.1 million at a recent Sotheby’s auction, sparking global attention.
Weighing 223 pounds, the piece, aptly named “America,” critiques excessive wealth while blending absurdity and luxury. The auction began at $10 million, roughly matching the gold’s market value. Cattelan designed the toilet as a satirical statement, noting that no matter how expensive your meal is, the outcome in a toilet is the same.
Sotheby’s described it as an “insightful commentary on the intersection of art and commodity value.” While previously displayed at exhibitions where visitors could use it, the auction display in New York was strictly for viewing.
Cattelan first unveiled two golden toilets in 2016. One was showcased at New York’s Guggenheim Museum, famously offered as a cheeky alternative to a Van Gogh painting for President Trump. Another was displayed at England’s Blenheim Palace before being stolen and never recovered.
The artist is also known for the infamous duct-taped banana artwork “Comedian,” which sold for $6 million and became a viral phenomenon, highlighting Cattelan’s flair for combining humor, controversy, and cultural commentary.
#MaurizioCattelan #GoldArt #LuxuryArt #ArtAuction #ContemporaryArt #ViralArt #ArtAndWealth
