A show spanning Two new york galleries
George Condo’s exhibition, Pastels, presented at Hauser & Wirth and Sprüth Magers in New York City, offers a rare opportunity to witness the artist’s dynamic approach to the medium of pastel. This two-part showcase highlights Condo’s ability to push the limits of improvisation, resulting in works that seek to render the complexities of the human psyche.
In this new series of portraits, Condo experiments with gesso, expansive fields of color, and bold pastel gestures — all executed without preparatory sketches. By forgoing traditional planning, the artist captures fleeting thoughts and emotions, embodying the fragmented and elusive nature of the mind. His approach bridges abstraction and figuration, offering viewers a novel perspective on visual storytelling.
Pastels, George Condo, Hauser & Wirth, exhibition view
puzzle-like pastels by george condos
At Hauser & Wirth, George Condo presents a series of portraits featuring what he refers to as his ‘bizarre characters.’ These figures are defined by fragmented visages pieced together with vibrant geometric planes. The jagged, electric energy of these compositions underscores the complexity and conflict inherent in human consciousness. The works invite viewers to navigate the splintered yet cohesive narratives embedded within each piece.
Meanwhile, Sprüth Magers hosts a complementary selection of works, including frenzied color compositions and black-and-white pastels marked by deliberate drips and spatters of pigment. In these pieces, Condo shifts away from figurative elements, focusing instead on gesture, line, and rhythm. Titles such as Centrifuge, Open Forms, No Direction Home, and Chaotic Combustion suggest a meditation on fluidity and internal tumult.
Pastels, George Condo, Hauser & Wirth, exhibition view
Together, the works at both galleries form a cohesive visual essay on Condo’s unparalleled draftsmanship and mastery of material. The artist embraces abstraction and figuration simultaneously to bring a thought-provoking exploration of human emotion through the medium of pastel. This dual exhibition emphasizes Condo’s exceptional sense of color and composition. While the dual show opened at both galleries on January 29th, Pastels will be on view at Sprüth Magers until March 1st, 2025, and on view at Hauser & Wirth until April 12th, 2025.
Pastels, George Condo, Hauser & Wirth, exhibition view
George Condo, Girl with Green Hair, 2024 © George Condo, courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth
George Condo, Screaming Abstraction, 2024 © George Condo, courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth
Pastels, George Condo, Sprüth Magers, exhibition view
George Condo, Open Forms, 2024 © George Condo, courtesy the artist and Sprüth Magers
Pastels, George Condo, Sprüth Magers, exhibition view
project info:
exhibition: Pastels
artist: George Condo | @artistgeorgecondo
gallery: Hauser & Wirth | @hauserwirth & Sprüth Magers | @spruethmagers
location: 542 West 22nd Street, New York, NY
on view (Hauser & Wirth): January 29th — April 12th, 2025
on view (Sprüth Magers): January 29th — March 1st, 2025
photographer: © Matt Grubb | @mattgrubb.americas.waffle
HAUSER & WIRTH (21)
Dec 18, 2024
Aug 31, 2023
Jun 19, 2023
Jun 03, 2023
Apr 13, 2023portraits (159)
Oct 30, 2024
Oct 27, 2024
Jul 04, 2024
May 08, 2024
Feb 22, 2024
Jan 21, 2025
Jan 16, 2025
Dec 18, 2024
Dec 03, 2024