Plot

Provocative artist Maurizio Cattelan's playful, subversive works satirized the art world until a 2011 Guggenheim retrospective cemented his place in the contemporary canon. This profile explores the elusive rebel's ascent.

An art world upstart, provocative and elusive artist Maurizio Cattelan made his career on playful and subversive works that send up the artistic establishment, until a retrospective at the Guggenheim in 2011 finally solidified his place in the contemporary art canon. Axelrod's equally playful profile leaves no stone unturned in trying to figure out: who is Maurizio Cattelan?