George Condo

Life and work in contemporary art

George Condo is an American visual artist born in 1957 who works across painting, drawing, sculpture, and printmaking. His practice encompasses multiple disciplines within contemporary art, and he has also worked as an illustrator, graphic artist, and architectural drafter over the course of his career. Condo maintains a studio in New York City, where he continues to produce work that spans traditional and experimental approaches to image making. His output reflects the varied technical skills he developed through different professional roles, including his background in drafting and illustration. As a contemporary artist working since the late twentieth century, Condo has built a body of work that moves between two dimensional and three dimensional forms, applying his distinctive approach to figuration and composition across different media. His work as a musician has also informed his visual practice, though he is known primarily for his contributions to painting and works on paper.

Paintings, works on paper, sculpture, and prints

Condo produces unique paintings and drawings as well as editioned prints. Paintings on canvas represent the largest and typically most valuable category of his work at auction. These unique works vary in scale from small panels to large format canvases, and the size of a painting directly affects its market position. Works on paper, including drawings and mixed media pieces, form another significant portion of his output. These may be unique works or studies related to larger projects. Prints, including lithographs, etchings, and screenprints, are produced in numbered editions and occupy a different price tier than unique works. The edition size and the number within that edition influence value, with lower numbered impressions and smaller edition sizes generally commanding higher prices. Sculptures, which Condo also produces, appear less frequently at auction than two dimensional works. The hierarchy in the saleroom follows the conventional pattern for contemporary artists: unique large scale paintings at the top, followed by smaller unique paintings and works on paper, then editioned prints, and finally multiples. This ordering reflects both the labour involved in creating each work and the relative scarcity of unique pieces compared to editioned material.

Examining medium, signature, and provenance

When a specialist evaluates a work by George Condo, the first consideration is the medium and support. Oil on canvas, acrylic on canvas, and mixed media on paper each carry different market expectations. The period in which the work was created matters, as Condo's career spans several decades and his style has evolved since the 1980s. For prints, the edition size and the specific number of the impression are recorded, along with the printing method and the publisher if known. The presence and location of the signature are documented, noting whether the work is signed on the front or verso, and whether prints are signed and numbered in pencil. Condition is assessed carefully, looking for any damage, restoration, fading, or issues with the support. Works on paper are examined for foxing, tears, or discolouration. Provenance is traced when documentation exists, including previous ownership, exhibition history, and any gallery or dealer records. A clear provenance strengthens a valuation, while gaps or uncertainties are noted. Any labels, stamps, or inscriptions on the reverse are photographed and researched.

Sales at this auction house

This auction house has offered ten works by George Condo, of which three have sold. The prices realised ranged from 400 euros to 5400 euros, with a median of 400 euros. This sample is small, and the results reflect the specific works that have appeared at this house rather than a comprehensive view of the artist's market. The range indicates that the house has handled works at accessible price points, likely including prints or smaller works on paper rather than major unique paintings. The modest median figure and the limited number of sales mean that these results provide only a narrow window into how Condo's work performs at auction. Sellers considering consignment should understand that these figures represent outcomes for particular pieces under specific conditions, and that different works by the artist would be valued individually based on their own characteristics.

Preparing a valuation request

A seller requesting a valuation should provide clear photographs of the front of the work in good light, showing the entire composition. A photograph of the back or verso is essential, as it may reveal labels, stamps, inscriptions, or other information about the work's history. Any signature should be photographed separately and in detail, showing where it appears and how it reads. If the work is a print, the numbering and any publisher marks must be visible. Dimensions should be measured precisely, giving height before width, and noting whether the measurement is of the sheet, the plate mark, or the canvas. If the work is framed, both framed and unframed dimensions are useful. Any documentation should be gathered, including certificates of authenticity, purchase receipts, gallery invoices, exhibition records, or correspondence related to the work. Condition issues, if known, should be mentioned. This information allows a specialist to assess the work accurately and provide a considered estimate.