George Condo’s ‘Pastels’: A Dazzling Dual Exhibition in New York
29 January – 12 April 2025
Hauser & Wirth, New York | Sprüth Magers, New York
All images taken by Lougher. Hauser and Wirth New York, March 2025.
The recently concluded dual exhibition George Condo: Pastels, held across Hauser & Wirth and Sprüth Magers in New York, offered a compelling exploration into the mind of one of contemporary art’s most sought-after painters. Through his dynamic use of pastel and mixed media, Condo once again demonstrated why he remains a formidable force in modern painting. Collectors and art enthusiasts alike were drawn to the exhibition in droves, with every work snapped up swiftly—a testament to Condo’s enduring desirability and influence.
A Two-Part Vision of a Singular Mind
The exhibition, divided between Hauser & Wirth’s SoHo space and Sprüth Magers on the Upper East Side, presented two complementary yet distinct bodies of work. At Hauser & Wirth, Condo unveiled a series of monumental portraits, affectionately described by the artist as his “bizarre characters”. These figures were fragmented and pieced together with luminous geometric forms, creating an electrified tension that reflected the complexity of the human psyche. Rendered entirely without preparatory sketches, each piece bore the immediacy and raw emotional power of pure improvisation.
Meanwhile, Sprüth Magers presented a contrasting suite of works, including both vibrant colour compositions and stark monochromatic pastels. Here, Condo delved deeper into abstraction, abandoning figurative hints in favour of gestural rhythms and energetic mark-making. Works such as Centrifuge, No Direction Home, and Chaotic Combustion captured a sense of internal turmoil and fluid transformation, echoing themes of psychological disarray and creative liberation.
The Language of Pastel
While pastel may suggest softness, Condo’s approach was anything but delicate. He wielded the medium with expressive vigour—layering gesso, pigment, and pastel with abandon, sometimes allowing colours to drip and spatter across the surface. The result was a set of works that felt alive with motion and emotion. These paintings were not simply visual objects but psychological landscapes—each one a portrait of a thought, a feeling, a fleeting state of being.
George Condo: A Master of the Human Condition
George Condo, born in Concord, New Hampshire in 1957, has long challenged and redefined the possibilities of portraiture. Describing his own style as “psychological cubism,” he draws on influences ranging from the Old Masters to Picasso, infusing his paintings with a combination of historical reference and contemporary anxiety. Having studied art history and music theory, Condo’s background informs the musicality of his compositions—the rhythmic balance of colour, shape, and line.
Following an early stint at Andy Warhol’s Factory and years immersed in the European avant-garde, Condo returned to New York, where he has lived and worked for decades. His work has been exhibited globally and is held in major collections including The Museum of Modern Art, New York, and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Collector Demand and Market Presence
The appetite for Condo’s work remains insatiable. During the run of Pastels, pieces were priced between $600,000 and $1.5 million—and sold out almost immediately. With works reaching monumental sizes and executed in a variety of media including pastel, acrylic, and metallic paint, each piece served as both a statement and a prize. In 2024, Condo ranked among the top three contemporary artists in global auction sales, a reflection of his continued relevance and appeal.
The presence of prominent collectors, curators, and advisors at both gallery openings underscored the exhibition’s cultural and commercial significance. At Sprüth Magers, the mood was intimate and contemplative, while Hauser & Wirth hosted a bustling showcase that buzzed with excitement.
A Visual Essay of the Mind
George Condo: Pastels was not merely an exhibition—it was a rare insight into the inner workings of an artist constantly redefining the act of seeing. Through bold experimentation and unwavering commitment to expression, Condo turned pastel—a medium often associated with subtlety—into a vehicle for profound psychological narrative. The show highlighted his mastery not only of technique but of the human condition itself.
In the ever-evolving world of contemporary art, George Condo continues to carve a unique and powerful path. Pastels was a celebration of that singular vision—proving once more that Condo’s paintings are as intellectually compelling as they are viscerally impactful.
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