Urban Art Association

One of the galleries at Frieze were promoting a new show of drawings... can't remember the gallery though! Sorry.
Think it was a UK gallery!!

George Condo at Skarstedt Gallery NYC

www.skarstedt.com/exhibitions/2014-11-08_george-condo/

Skarstedt is pleased to present an exhibition of new works by George Condo titled Double Heads / Black Paintings / Abstractions, featuring large-scale paintings created in 2014 at his East Hampton studio.

Condo’s Double Heads and Black Paintings continue his investigation of the concept of portraiture. In these most recent works, Condo has adopted Harold Rosenberg’s idea of ‘action painting’— a term used to describe the performative, often volatile energy exercised by Abstract Expressionist painters like de Kooning and Pollock—to create his own ‘action portraits.’ Through an elaborate process of layering, erasure, and reconstruction, shattered images of faces and bodies emerge from and interact within a field of abstract forms.

Incorporating the use of silver metallic paint in Double Portrait in Grisaille on Silver, 2014, and other works in this series, Condo references Warhol’s silver paintings from the 1960’s such as Double Elvis. After preparing a ground of silver paint on canvas, Condo applies ivory black onto loose sheets of paper, which is then transferred onto the canvasses, giving them the look and surface quality of a screen print. He then creates a schism in this form by subsequently employing the traditional technique of grisaille to draw out the figures by hand.
In creating such large-scale paintings in a very confined studio space, Condo has been forced to work ‘inside’ his paintings, addressing both subject and material at close range—never stepping too far back from the canvas to allow the image in his mind to entirely materialize. Both gestural improvisation and concrete imagery are evident as he forcefully pushes and pulls the paint around the surface of the canvas until a final image emerges, fully formed yet haunted by the process of its becoming. In Beginnings, 2014, a large square format painting, a single eye peers out from the devastation of what at one time might have been a full portrait. This process of addition, subtraction and layering evokes a visceral response to both the handling of paint and the subject of the painting.

Partially obscured by violent brush marks, the likenesses of the figures and characters in Condo’s paintings are integrations of forms that the brushwork fractures. Facial features peek out from underneath fields of color as broad strokes of bold black and white paint shatter the pictorial plane. The simultaneous multiple expressions of his portraits speak to the volatility of human emotions and the unpredictability—even hilarity—of the characters one encounters in urban life.

The abstract works in this exhibition fluctuate between the lyrical and the hysterical, building upon the cacophony of interacting forms for which Condo is known. In Silver Mass, 2014, as well as several other works on view, Condo extends the lineage of his series of abstract ‘expanding canvasses’, which began in the early 1980’s, to invent ever new painterly forms and hints of human expression.

Double Heads / Black Paintings / Abstractions will be on view at Skarstedt Chelsea (550 W. 21st Street) from November 8 through December 20, 2014.

I also love his work. I had an opportunity to purchase a work several years back but that ship has sailed. These look like an interesting departure and one I think I like.

I love George Condo, well his work anyway
Wish I was in NY to see this!

I am a HUGE fan of Condo's work. Unfortunately, way outside my budget. Thanks for posting.

Not exactly urban art but I know some of you are fans. Recently picked up this book and wanted to share how amazing the quality is, if you were on the fence just like I was and hesitating between this one and the Mental States book, I gotta say "Painting Reconfigured" is a great choice. Bigger in size, more content and shows the evolutions of Condo throughout the years. Great value for the price.

50$ on Amazon

Nice...thanks for posting Dread! I'm in LA tomorrow night and may try to swing by to window shop.

Sort of crude Picasso meets Dali mixed with Bacon does Disney.

Anyone see the prices? 300-400k?

 Describing Condo as  "the pioneer of the international revival of figurative painting.”  I doubt it considering figurative painting never went away and many artists over the decades including Hockney have been tagged with that phrase.

The exhibition looks good and the influences make it interesting.

Surprised I heard about this so late and haven't heard more about it, but here is it.

artandculture.com/art/print/droopy-dog-abstraction/

Started at $3750, currently at $4350.

Geez these galleries play everyone for fools. The price staggers up as it sells. Lol. I will never buy a print that does that.

Btw they are probably too expensive for me anyway haha

I have just had a look and no luck as of yet.
Shame it looks good. 
I did find this shorter interview/doc but I'll let you know if I find the one you are looking for 

channel.louisiana.dk/video/george-condo-way-i-think

Thanks for looking Leo