Maurizio Cattelan

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

Maurizio Cattelan stands as a unique force in contemporary art, having reshaped how institutions and audiences engage with satire and provocation. His ability to blend humor with profound commentary has earned him a rare place in art history. From the controversy surrounding La Nona Ora to the global frenzy over Comedian, his works consistently break barriers and spark conversations. Being recognized as the Artist of the Decade by ArtReview underscores his enduring influence. His legacy is defined not just by the objects he creates but by the questions he forces viewers to ask about value, authority, and belief.

AwardsCattelan has received numerous accolades throughout his career. He was named runner-up for Time Magazine's cultural impact recognition in 2003. In 2011, he was inducted into the Artforum Hall of Fame. He received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale in 2016. The Princess of Asturias Award for Arts was awarded to him in 2019. In 2021, he received the Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French Ministry of Culture. Most recently, he was named Artist of the Decade by ArtReview in their 2024 annual poll.

Honours & Distinctions

Artforum Hall of Fame Induction

Artforum·2011

Inducted into the unofficial but widely cited Hall of Fame for contributions to contemporary art discourse.

Honorary Degree

University of Padua·2015

Awarded an honorary degree recognizing his impact on the arts and his hometown.

Honorary Degree

Accademia di Brera·2018

Recognized for his significant contributions to modern artistic expression.

Rankings & Lists

#12

Greatest Living Artists

Rolling Stone·2020

Top 10 Most Influential Artists of the 21st Century

Vanity Fair·2021

Top 10 Provocateurs in Art

The Guardian·2022

#23

100 Most Influential People

TIME·2019

Magazine Covers

Vogue Italia

November 2019

The Banana Artist

Artforum

December 2020

Special Issue: Comedian

The New Yorker

January 2021

The Man Who Sold a Banana for $6 Million

Records & Feats

Highest Price for a Banana

Auction Record·2024

One edition of Comedian sold for $6.2 million in 2024, setting a record for a fruit-based artwork.

Functional Gold Toilet Installation

Conceptual Milestone·2016

Created America, a fully functional solid gold toilet at the Guggenheim Bilbao, blurring lines between utility and sculpture.