Renowned Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan has partnered with online art platform Avant Arte to launch an unprecedented scavenger hunt project featuring his new sculptural work. The innovative initiative centers around the artist's latest creation, "We Are The Revolution" (2025), a sculptural self-portrait that pays homage to Joseph Beuys' iconic felt suit while simultaneously critiquing the contemporary art world.
According to Avant Arte, the new sculpture serves as both a lampoon of the "inflated self-importance of contemporary art" and a genuine meditation on the changing role of artists in modern society. Cattelan himself acknowledged the unexpected nature of the project with characteristic wit, stating in a press release: "If you never thought you would be able to hang my effigy in your home, that makes two of us."
The resin sculptures will be produced in a limited edition of 1,000 pieces, each priced at €1,500 (approximately $1,770). These editions will be made available through a randomized drawing system on Avant Arte's website, with entry submissions closing on October 24, 2025. This lottery-style distribution system adds another layer of chance and exclusivity to the project.
The scavenger hunt component represents the most innovative aspect of the initiative, taking place simultaneously in New York, Amsterdam, and London from September 30 to October 7. Participants will receive two clues per location through Avant Arte's website to help them locate the hidden sculptures. The pricing structure for the hunt varies dramatically by location and venue, ranging from as low as $0.99 to as high as $9,999, depending on where the pieces are discovered.
The sculptures will be strategically placed in unconventional locations that challenge traditional notions of where art should be found and sold. These sites include market stalls, bodegas, and antiques dealerships, creating an element of surprise and democratizing access to the artwork. While New York will feature physical sculptures in actual locations, London and Amsterdam will offer digital-only versions of the hunt.
This project arrives on the heels of Cattelan's massive commercial success with "Comedian" (2019), his controversial banana-and-duct-tape sculpture that sold for $6.24 million at auction last year. The contrast between that high-profile sale and this accessible scavenger hunt highlights the artist's ongoing exploration of art market dynamics and value perception.
Mazdak Sanii, CEO and co-founder of Avant Arte, explained the conceptual framework behind the collaboration in an email statement. "Maurizio Cattelan's work often plays with how value, scarcity and desire are constructed – this hunt invites an audience across the world to retrieve his sculpture editions from unexpected locations in three major cities, performing some of these ideas in real time," Sanii said. "We're excited to bring a creatively involved project with one of the most influential artists of our time to a new generation of enthusiasts and collectors."
The project represents a significant experiment in art distribution and accessibility, challenging conventional gallery and auction house models while maintaining the conceptual rigor that has made Cattelan one of the most recognizable names in contemporary art. By placing his work in everyday commercial spaces and offering it at varying price points, the artist continues his career-long investigation into the mechanisms that create and sustain artistic value in the modern marketplace.
