Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan has opened his first solo gallery show in over two decades at the Gagosian Gallery in Chelsea, New York. Known for his provocative and conceptual art, Cattelan's exhibition, "Sunday," runs through June 15, 2024.
Cattelan, 63, has previously made headlines with pieces like La Nona Ora, a sculpture of Pope John Paul II struck by a meteor, and Comedian, a banana duct-taped to a wall that sold for $120,000 at Art Basel in Miami. His works often critique wealth, power, and cultural norms.
"Sunday" features two main pieces. The first, also titled Sunday, consists of individual 24-karat gold-plated steel panels riddled with gunfire from over 20,000 rounds, selling for $375,000 each. Shot at a gun range outside New York by licensed professionals, these panels evoke conflict and draw attention to themes of violence and gun regulation in the U.S.
The second piece, November, is a Carrara marble sculpture of a man urinating on a bench, modeled after Cattelan's late friend Lucio Zotti. This work, referred to as a "monument of marginality," contrasts with classical fountains and raises questions about public decency and societal norms.
Cattelan stated that the exhibition addresses themes of violence and cultural differences, leaving viewers to interpret the underlying messages. The show has attracted significant interest, reflecting Cattelan's continued influence in the contemporary art world.