“All Over the Place” by George Condo

“The Stockbroker” by George Condo

“The Priest” by George Condo

“Father and Son” by George Condo

“Mary Magdalene” by George Condo

“Head with Sword” by George Condo

For three decades, New Hampshire born Condo has really been at it. Provoking. Looking. Poking. And making fun. Appearing on the arm of Kanye West at various Art Glitterati gatherings, the fierce Cognoscenti that is the New York City art world has embraced him whole-heartedly as the pied-piper of painting. His virtuoso has gained him many compatriots (Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, to boot). And while Condo’s developed a unique style that employs singular draftsmanship of old masters, he unwittingly still pokes fun at his viewers. Meanwhile, his subject matter depicts the feeble-mindedness of this day an age, along with the witticism that springs from his fierce imagination.

“Kanye West” by George Condo

“The Apparition” by George Condo

“Red Seated Woman” by George Condo

Last April, The New Museum quoted Condo, accusing himself of painting like “Fake Old Masters,” which proved to be a provocative futurism on his part. As so many artists today borrow specific imagery from inane, yet historical sources, Condo blatantly chooses to adopt the styles and methods of earlier painters and has happily applied them to subjects that are distinctly his own.

His memory-bank barks off Picasso-esque Cubism, Looney Tunes, Diego Velázquez, and a whole bevy of annoying unsavory types found at pretentious dinner parties near you. Common place social roles are skewed in his portraits, making enough room to blast David Byrne lyrics in the background. In Condo’s words “I want to reflect the madness of everyday life.” Empathetic, humorous, snarling, strategic, naturalistic, and dystopic dark comedies play themselves out in his work. Walking away from these paintings, it is declarative that we have entered our critical and necessary Post-Humanist rage.

Condo’s work is currently on view at the Hayward Gallery in London,U.K.

Posted by Ana Lola Roman for The PhotoSynth Project