George Condo's Cubism portrait paintings reveal multiple states of joy and horror

On the one hand, the characters in George Condo's portrait paintings can be seen as joyful and optimistic; on the other, they reveal darkness and horror.

© George Condo Multiple Figure Composition 2019. Courtesy of the artist and Skarstedt, New York

© George Condo Multiple Figure Composition 2019. Courtesy of the artist and Skarstedt, New York

The American contemporary artist loves to explore the Jekyll and Hyde of the human psyche – how we relate so quickly to our surroundings and what's happening in the world. Pointing to Cubism, his paintings are often large-scale and beautifully built up from layer upon layer of gesso, ink washes and metallic paints.

Colourful and definitely humorous, each character simultaneously depicts familiar as well as alien thoughts and feelings. In his latest series, The Black Paintings, Condo explores his own life experiences which have influenced his approach to painting.

In one particular artwork, titled The Consequence of Random Perspectives, he delves into both minimalist and figurative composition which he feels reflects our "conflicting thoughts about today's geopolitical landscape where one is literally pushed to the edge attempting to figure out how to put life as we thought we knew it back in order. Thus, leaving a compound of figurative matter alone in the dark, re-assembling its own parts without any instruction manual".

You can view George Condo's latest paintings at the Skarstedt Gallery in New York City until 21 December. Find out more: www.skarstedt.com.

© George Condo Prismatic Head Composition 2019

© George Condo Prismatic Head Composition 2019

© George Condo Multiple Portraits 2019

© George Condo Multiple Portraits 2019

© George Condo Fashion Model 2019

© George Condo Fashion Model 2019

© George Condo Linear Portrait 1 2019

© George Condo Linear Portrait 1 2019

© George Condo Installation View, courtesy of the gallery

© George Condo Installation View, courtesy of the gallery

© George Condo Installation View, courtesy of the gallery

© George Condo Installation View, courtesy of the gallery

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