Maurizio Cattelan (born 1960) is an Italian contemporary artist widely known for his provocative, satirical, and conceptually driven artworks. Working across sculpture, installation, performance, and limited edition prints, Cattelan uses humor, irony, and staged realism to interrogate systems of power, belief, and cultural authority.
Cattelan's practice consistently blurs the boundaries between reality and fiction, often presenting meticulously crafted sculptures that resemble real people or situations while destabilizing their meaning through context and absurdity. His works address themes such as religion, politics, mortality, guilt, and the commodification of art, frequently provoking debate and controversy. By employing satire as a critical tool, he challenges viewers to confront uncomfortable truths embedded in social and historical narratives.
Among his most discussed artworks are The Ninth Hour (1999), depicting Pope John Paul II struck by a meteorite, and Him (2001), a kneeling figure of Adolf Hitler rendered with unsettling vulnerability. These works exemplify Cattelan's ability to combine technical precision with ethical and psychological tension, forcing a reassessment of authority, memory, and moral responsibility.
In addition to large-scale installations, Cattelan has produced a significant body of multiples and limited edition prints, which extend his conceptual concerns into collectible formats. Whether encountered as sculpture, installation, or print, his work remains a defining force in contemporary art, characterized by its sharp intelligence, theatrical staging, and critical engagement with the structures that shape modern life.
