Danish artist’s vulva banana sells for $12,869

A banana artwork by Danish artist Thyra Hilden, shaped to resemble a vulva, has been sold for $12,869.

The provocative artwork was sold at Copenhagen’s Enter Art Fair on Sunday, August 31.

As reported by Reuters, the piece was purchased by Anders Andersen, founder of a co-working office venture.

Hilden intentionally priced it at just 10% of the male counterpart, Maurizio Cattelan’s famous banana piece “Comedian”, which sold for $120,000 at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019.

The second edition of the single banana taped to a wall sold for the same figure and the third edition was sold for $6.24 million at Sotheby’s in November 2024.

The pricing was meant to spark discussion about how female artists are often undervalued compared to men.

Andersen explained his reasoning, saying, “The price might sound ridiculous, but I hope the real value will come from what the female artist wishes to express through the work.”

He also mentioned that the banana would be replaced daily.

Hilden expressed hope that her artwork would ignite meaningful discussions about equality in both art and society.

The sale was part of the Enter Art Fair, Scandinavia’s largest international art showcase, featuring exhibitions from over 90 galleries representing more than 20 countries.