George Condo - New Now London Wednesday, December 5, 2018 | Phillips
  • Provenance

    Private Collection, Berlin (acquired directly from the artist in the 1980's)

  • Artist Biography

    George Condo

    American

    Picasso once said, "Good artists borrow, great artists steal." Indeed, American artist George Condo frequently cites Picasso as an explicit source in his contemporary cubist compositions and joyous use of paint. Condo is known for neo-Modernist compositions staked in wit and the grotesque, which draw the eye into a highly imaginary world. 

    Condo came up in the New York art world at a time when art favored brazen innuendo and shock. Student to Warhol, best friend to Basquiat and collaborator with William S. Burroughs, Condo tracked a different path. He was drawn to the endless inquiries posed by the aesthetics and formal considerations of Caravaggio, Rembrandt and the Old Masters.

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29

Sixteen works: (i, iii, vii, viii, ix, x, xi, xii, xiv, xv, xvi) Untitled; (ii) The universe that didn't want me; (iv) The DIVINE LIGHT OF CONDO; (v) 7 Abstract FORMS; (vi) Mrs Armstrong; (xiii) Heaven

ii) signed and dated 'Condo 86' lower right; further titled 'The universe that didn't want me' lower centre
iv) titled 'The DIVINE LIGHT OF CONDO' upper edge
v) signed and titled '7 Abstract FORMS Condo' lower edge
vi) titled 'Mrs Armstrong' upper edge
x) signed with the artist's initials and dated 'GC.83.12' lower left
xi) signed, dated and dedicated 'Condo 85 11. For Brigetta' on the reverse
xiii) titled 'Heaven' lower centre
xvi) signed and dated 'Condo 85' lower right

(i, iv, v, vi) pencil on paper
(ii, xvi) pencil and felt tip pen on paper
(iii, ix) felt tip pen on paper
vii) oil pastel on paper
viii) pencil, oil pastel and crayon on paper
(x, xii, xiii, xiv, xv) ink on paper
xi) felt tip pen, pen, biro and masking fluid on paper

i) iii) iv) v) vi) 29.5 x 21 cm (11 5/8 x 8 1/4 in.)
ii) 21 x 29.5 cm (8 1/4 x 11 5/8 in.)
vii) xi) 18 x 12.5 cm (7 1/8 x 4 7/8 in.)
viii) 18 x 13 cm (7 1/8 x 5 1/8 in.)
ix) 13.2 x 9 cm (5 1/4 x 3 1/2 in.)
x) 14.8 x 10.5 cm (5 7/8 x 4 1/8 in.)
xii) xiii) xvi) 21 x 14.8 cm (8 1/4 x 5 7/8 in.)
xiv) xv) 14.8 x 21 cm (5 7/8 x 8 1/4 in.)

ii) Executed in 1986.
x) Executed in 1983.
xi) xvi) Executed in 1985.

Estimate
£25,000 - 35,000 

Sold for £37,500

Contact Specialist
Simon Tovey
Head of Sale
+44 20 7318 4084

New Now

London Auction 5 December 2018