Ponti Art Gallery is interested in buying and selling works
of art by this artist.
Maurizio Cattelan Biography
Maurizio Cattelan, born on September 21, 1960, in Padua, Italy, is a conceptual artist whose work is known for its satirical and provocative nature. Cattelan's art often combines humor, irony, and cynicism to challenge the viewer's perceptions of art and society. Despite his self-description as a "lazy" artist, Cattelan has become one of the most prominent figures in contemporary art, with his works sparking both admiration and controversy.
Cattelan grew up in a working-class family in Padua. His father was a truck driver, and his mother worked as a cleaning lady. The financial struggles of his family and the early loss of his mother played a significant role in shaping his outlook on life and art. Cattelan has often spoken about his lack of formal art education, emphasizing that his real education came from making exhibitions and engaging with the art world directly. This unconventional path to artistry is reflected in his approach to creating art, which often eschews traditional methods and materials.
In the early stages of his career, Cattelan moved to Milan, where he began designing and producing wooden furniture. This experience in design laid the groundwork for his later work in sculpture and installation art. However, it was his conceptual and performance pieces that garnered the most attention. Cattelan's art is characterized by its use of everyday objects and its exploration of themes such as authority, identity, and mortality.
One of Cattelan's most famous works is "La Nona Ora" (The Ninth Hour), a hyperrealistic sculpture depicting Pope John Paul II struck down by a meteorite. This piece, like much of Cattelan's work, plays with the idea of reverence and irreverence, inviting viewers to question their assumptions about authority and sanctity. Another notable work is "Him," a sculpture of Adolf Hitler in a kneeling position, which confronts the viewer with the uncomfortable juxtaposition of evil and vulnerability.
Cattelan's art is not limited to sculpture; he has also engaged in performance art and curatorial projects. In 1999, he founded "Permanent Food," a magazine that combined art criticism with culinary content, further showcasing his interest in blending art with everyday life. Additionally, Cattelan co-created "TOILETPAPER," a biannual picture-based publication, with photographer Pierpaolo Ferrari, which has become known for its surreal and provocative imagery.
In 2011, Cattelan announced his retirement from art following a retrospective at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. However, this retirement was short-lived, and he has since returned to the art world with new projects. One of his most talked-about works in recent years is "Comedian," a piece consisting of a banana duct-taped to a wall, which sold for a significant sum at Art Basel Miami in 2019. The simplicity of the piece, combined with its high sale price, sparked widespread debate about the nature of art and value.
Throughout his career, Cattelan has remained a controversial figure, often criticized for what some see as his cynicism and irreverence. However, his work continues to be celebrated for its ability to provoke thought and challenge societal norms. Cattelan's legacy lies in his ability to blur the lines between art and life, inviting us to reconsider our perceptions of both.
Maurizio Cattelan Quotes and
Sales of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
If you wish to purchase works by the painter: Contact us
and let us know your request. We will inform you about the
available works. We also offer the possibility to
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informed at the beginning of each month about the latest
acquisitions of the art gallery.
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