Could Cattelan's Banana Have Inspired Pantone's 2021 Colors?

A viral post by San Francisco artist Doctor Popular on Facebook suggests that Maurizio Cattelan's banana artwork "The Comedian" may have influenced Pantone's 2021 Colors of the Year: Ultimate Gray and Illuminating. The post, shared by Boing Boing, shows the banana with Pantone color swatches. Cattelan's work, a banana taped to a wall with gray duct tape, debuted at Perrotin's booth at Art Basel Miami Beach in December 2019. It sold for $120,000 and was later eaten by artist David Datuna in a performance titled "Hangry Artist." The artwork sparked widespread debate and was removed from the booth due to crowds. Pantone's 2021 colors, a bright yellow and opaque gray, match the banana and tape. The article questions whether the artwork's fame influenced Pantone's choice.