A unique piece of conceptual art, a toilet made entirely of gold, is poised to attract attention and significant bids at an upcoming auction in New York. The toilet, titled America, is expected to fetch over $15 million when it goes under the hammer at Sotheby’s on the evening of September 26, 2023 (September 27 AEDT).
This striking 101-kilogram, 18-carat gold installation by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan has already generated considerable excitement, evidenced by the long queue outside Sotheby’s new auction house located in the Breuer building on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The line stretches down Madison Avenue and around the corner onto East 75th Street, with visitors eager to catch a glimpse of the artwork that is not connected to any plumbing.
The bidding for America will commence at the current price of gold, which, as of the latest updates, stands at just over $10.2 million (approximately $15.6 million). Sotheby’s is tracking the gold price in real-time on its website, adding an element of interest to the auction process.
This is not the first time Cattelan’s gold toilet has garnered attention. The original America was installed at the Guggenheim Museum in New York in 2016, allowing visitors to use it as a functioning toilet. The artwork became the subject of a notable incident in 2017 when the Trump administration requested a loan of a Vincent van Gogh painting from the Guggenheim. Curator Nancy Spector famously offered the gold toilet instead.
As the auction date approaches, the anticipation surrounding America continues to build, reflecting the intersection of art, value, and contemporary culture in today’s society. The event promises to be a significant moment not just for art collectors but also for those interested in the unique social commentary that Cattelan’s work represents.
For art enthusiasts and potential bidders, this auction represents a rare opportunity to acquire a piece of modern art history, one that challenges perceptions of value and functionality in the art world.
