The German-born artist discusses confronting greed, fear, and fading freedom in his latest works
You have become known for paintings of men out and about that are wildly colored and psychologically charged. You have a solo exhibition this fall, at the Michael Werner Gallery in New York. What feels new about this work?
One painting is about a drag queen, and she’s on the floor [Stage for Life, 2025]. When you go to drag shows, normally they’re packed, and now they feel empty. It feels like New York’s vibe is getting more conservative in certain areas. I have this kind of new feeling that I tried to bring into the painting.
