Maurizio Cattelan was born in Padua, Italy in 1960; he did not attend an art academy, but developed his artistic talent through self-teaching. Cattelan is the most quoted on the market among living Italian artists.

He started working in Milan creating non-functional objects, in harmony with conceptual trends, his multifaceted works often combine sculpture with performance; some consider him the king of the pranksters as his work often combines humor and macabre, historical narratives and public figures openly involved.