George Condo's bronze head sculptures are a significant aspect of his sculptural oeuvre, showcasing his unique blend of figurative and abstract elements. These sculptures reflect Condo's deep engagement with both classical art traditions and contemporary themes, often incorporating a sense of psychological depth and complexity that is characteristic of his broader body of work.
Condo began experimenting with sculpture in the late 1980s, using materials such as wood, clay, plaster, paint, and found objects to create three-dimensional forms that are both abstract and figurative. This experimentation led to the creation of bronze sculptures, which he developed by incorporating these diverse materials into cohesive, expressive forms. His process involves the meticulous assembly of various materials, followed by casting the assembled pieces in bronze. This method ensures that the textures and details of the original materials are preserved in the final bronze sculpture (GalleriesNow) (Sprueth Magers).
One notable example of Condo's bronze head sculptures is "The Liquor Store Attendant" (2012), which features a large-eared bust with pronounced finger marks, highlighting the artist's hands-on approach to sculpture. Another significant piece is "The Farmer's Wife" (2005), a bronze approximation of a woman's head with a carrot protruding from it, blending the grotesque with the whimsical in true Condo fashion (Sprueth Magers) (Skarstedt).
Condo's bronze head sculptures often explore themes of identity and psychological states, much like his paintings. These works are described as "unedited human disasters," presenting figures with distorted, exaggerated features that convey a sense of raw emotion and existential angst. For instance, the "Constructed Head with Standing Figure" (2017) features an imposing, deconstructed head combined with a standing figure, creating a dynamic interplay between abstraction and figuration (GalleriesNow) (wallpaper.com).
Exhibitions such as "George Condo: New Works" at the Skarstedt Gallery have showcased these sculptures, highlighting their significance within Condo's artistic practice. The exhibition included several large-scale bronze pieces that demonstrate his ability to translate his unique visual language into three-dimensional forms. The bronzes, such as "Nude on Wine Crates" and "Constructed Head with Standing Figure," exhibit a painterly quality in their patinas, linking them back to Condo's "Action Portraits" and reinforcing the interconnectedness of his painting and sculptural practices (wallpaper.com) (Skarstedt).
George Condo's bronze head sculptures exemplify his innovative approach to art, merging traditional sculptural techniques with contemporary themes to create works that are both visually striking and deeply evocative. These sculptures continue to contribute to Condo's reputation as a pivotal figure in contemporary art, bridging the gap between classical forms and modern psychological exploration (GalleriesNow) (Sprueth Magers) (wallpaper.com).