Maurizio Cattelan

Maurizio Cattelan

Maurizio Cattelan is a contemporary Italian conceptual artist. Known equally for his dark humour as for his realistic sculpture, he frequently depicts celebrities, art historical figures, or taxidermied animals in comically absurd scenes. Cattelan takes inspiration from the Dadaist and Surrealist movements to create his biting and surreal satire. An example of his satirical art, “America” is a fully functioning toilet made of 18-karat solid gold. It was stolen in September 2019 from Blenheim Palace, where it was exhibited on loan from the permanent collection of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

Art Recovery International was pleased to resolve a five-year-old dispute over the two Cattelan works pictured above involving an elderly collector, his heirs, and a Monaco based art dealer.  The resolution is confidential but involves the sale of “Untitled” (Red Cross)  electric light, perspex, metal, transformer and wall bracket, cross 60.3 x 60.3 x 17.6 cm (23 3/4 x 23 3/4 x 6 7/8 in.) overall 60.3 x 72.8 x 17.6 cm (23 3/4 x 28 5/8 x 6 7/8 in.) Executed in 1997, this work is number 3 from an edition of 3.

We’re honoured that the parties came to us after law enforcement and their own attorneys could not find a way forward.