By George, he's got it - painter George Condo's exhibitions in New York, New York

Interview, Dec, 1997

A portrait that nailed artist George Condo would show an impishly handsome man, cuddly looking, taller than short and shorter than tall, and - here comes the clincher - he would have lots of feet in lots of worlds. On one hand, Condo's made it in the big-time art world; on the other, he's a die-hard bohemian, a modest kind of guy, with a lot of grace, humor, and respect for oddness. That's what has bonded him to figures like William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, and others who have seen in the forty-year-old Condo a kindred free spirit, someone well-versed in the age-old wisdom of the fool.

Upcoming shows of Condo's works in New York City reflect a few of his many sides. The artist can employ cool-cat characters in one series, art-historical tradition in another, and abstract sophistication in the next. This month the Pat Hearn Gallery opens an exhibition of a group of Condo's paintings, drawings, and sculptures made with Burroughs, and from January 30 through March 7, PaceWildenstein will be showing new paintings under the title "Collage Abstractions." A feature film, Condo Painting, directed by John McNaughton, will have its premiere next month at the Sundance Film Festival before entering theaters later in 1998. Bets are, the movie will be its own wonderful creature, just like Condo.