Middle Finger By Maurizio Cattelan, Milan, Italy

Maurizio Cattelan is an Italian artist (September 21, 1960, Padova, Italy). He is known for his satirical sculptures, particularly La Nona Ora (The Ninth Hour), depicting the Pope John Paul II struck down by a meteorite.
Cattelan started his career in Forlì (Italy) making wooden furniture in the eighties where he came to know some designers like Ettore Sottsass.
He made a catalogue his work which he sent to galleries. This promotion gave him an opening in design and contemporary art. He created a sculpture an ostrich with its head buried in the ground, wore a costume a figurine with a giant head Picasso, and affixed a Milanese gallerist to a wall with tape. During this period, he also created the Oblomov Foundation.He usually uses alter ego in his art works, and there are strange analogies between the man who attacked Berlusconi (Massimo Tartaglia) and Cattelan's alter ego (view images).
Most recently, Cattelan has taken on the role curator. He resided in the East Village New York City, but maintained a foothold in Milan. He created a magazine called Permanent Food which included images stolen from other magazines.