George Condo Explores the Psyche Through "Pastels"

Offering a unique look at the chaos and fluidity of the human condition.

George Condo’s latest exhibitions, Pastels, take over Sprüth Magers and Hauser & Wirth in New York, spotlighting his inventive approach to the pastel medium. Known for pushing boundaries, Condo’s new works abandon preparatory sketches, relying instead on instinctive gestures, gesso layers and bold color fields to delve into the complexities of the human psyche.

At Hauser & Wirth, a series of fractured, geometric portraits—what Condo calls his “bizarre characters”—lay bare the inner conflicts of the mind. Bright planes of color intersect jaggedly across their faces, reflecting the splintered and multifaceted nature of thought.

Meanwhile, Sprüth Magers features frenetic color compositions alongside stark black-and-white pastels, where dripping pigments and intersecting forms prioritize movement and rhythm over figuration. Titles like “Centrifuge,” “Chaotic Combustion,” “No Direction Home” and “Open Forms” underline the energy and disarray embedded in these works.

Together, these exhibitions showcase Condo’s vivid use of color and mastery of abstraction, offering a unique look at the chaos and fluidity of the human condition.

Sprüth Magers
New York, 22 E 80th Street
January 29–March 1, 2025
Public Reception: January 29, 5–7pm ET

Hauser & Wirth
New York, 134 Wooster Street
January 29–April 12, 2025