George Condo's Cubism portrait paintings reveal multiple states of joy and horror

The American contemporary artist loves to explore the Jekyll and Hyde of the human psyche – how we relate so quickly to our surroundings and what's happening in the world. Pointing to Cubism, his paintings are often large-scale and beautifully built up from layer upon layer of gesso, ink washes and metallic paints.

Colourful and definitely humorous, each character simultaneously depicts familiar as well as alien thoughts and feelings. In his latest series, The Black Paintings, Condo explores his own life experiences which have influenced his approach to painting.

In one particular artwork, titled The Consequence of Random Perspectives, he delves into both minimalist and figurative composition which he feels reflects our "conflicting thoughts about today's geopolitical landscape where one is literally pushed to the edge attempting to figure out how to put life as we thought we knew it back in order. Thus, leaving a compound of figurative matter alone in the dark, re-assembling its own parts without any instruction manual".

You can view George Condo's latest paintings at the Skarstedt Gallery in New York City until 21 December. Find out more: www.skarstedt.com.