In the 2000s, George Condo continued to expand his artistic repertoire, gaining significant recognition for his unique blend of high art and popular culture, which he terms "psychological Cubism" and "Artificial Realism." This period in Condo's career is marked by a prolific output of paintings, drawings, sculptures, and printmaking that further established his place within the contemporary art world. Condo's work during the 2000s is characterized by its engagement with art historical references, notably through his reinterpretation of the works of Pablo Picasso, as well as by his creation of distorted, often grotesque figures that explore the complexities of human consciousness. His paintings from this era, such as "The Secretary" (2002), showcase Condo's ability to blend various artistic influences, from Old Master portraits to the cheeky humor of Pop Art and cartoons, to confound and engage viewers​ (The Art Story)​. A significant theme throughout Condo's work in the 2000s is the exploration of what he describes as "psychological Cubism," where he seeks to represent various emotional states within a single canvas. This approach is exemplified in his large-scale works, which are often packed with a frenzy of figures rendered in a Cubist style, marrying the improvisational feel of jazz music with the intellectual rigor of contemporary philosophy​ (The Art Story)​. The early 2000s also saw Condo collaborating with notable figures outside the visual arts, most famously with rapper Kanye West in 2010, for whom Condo created a series of paintings for the album "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy." This collaboration highlighted Condo's ability to cross the boundaries between different artistic disciplines, further cementing his status as a significant figure in contemporary culture​ (Wikipedia)​. Condo's work during this period was widely exhibited and included in major collections, affirming his role as an influential and enduring voice in contemporary art. His exhibitions, such as the mid-career retrospective "Mental States" at the New Museum in New York City in 2011, and his inclusion in prestigious collections, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, underscored the critical and commercial success Condo achieved in the 2000s​ (Wikipedia)​​ (Sothebys.com)​. Through his innovative blending of styles and genres, George Condo's art in the 2000s offers a compelling vision of the human condition, marked by a profound engagement with the absurdities and complexities of contemporary life. His work from this period reflects both a deep reverence for the traditions of painting and a playful, irreverent challenge to those very traditions, making him a pivotal figure in the landscape of contemporary art.