PHILIP COLBERT
LOBSTEROPOLIS
October 23, 2021
INTRODUCTION
LOBSTEROPOLIS represents Colbert's latest body of work. It includes large-scale Paintings and sculptures that continue the artistic journey of his Lobster alter ego and further expand his visual language.
Colbert is often referred to as the "godson of Andy Warhol". Graduating with an MA in Philosophy from the University of St Andrews, Colbert has created a global following for his cartoon lobster persona and masterful hyper pop history paintings. Championed by art world figures such as Charles Saatchi and Simon de Pury, his work powerfully explores the patterns of contemporary digital culture and its relationship to a more profound art historical dialogue.
Following on from early Pop painters such as Richard Hamilton, Roy Lichtenstein and James Rosenquist, Colbert's paintings cross high art themes from old master paintings and contemporary art theory with everyday symbols of contemporary mass culture, all narrated through the eyes of Colbert's cartoon Lobster alter ego.
"I became an artist when I became a Lobster".
- Philip Colbert
2020, Oil and acrylic on canvas, 195.0 x 270.0 x 4.5cm
2020, Oil and acrylic on canvas, 195.0 x 270.0 x 4.5cm
2021, Oil and acrylic on steel panels, with neon light, 105.0 x 90.0 x 30.0cm
2020, Marble, 60.0 x 52.0 x 45.0cm
2020, Marble, 60.0 x 60.0 x 50.0cm
2020, Oil and acrylic on canvas, 270.0 x 195.0 x 4.5cm
2020, Acrylic and lacquer on bronze, 120.0 x 118.0 x 92.0cm
2021, Acrylic and lacquer on aluminum, 84.0 x 168.0 x 91.0cm
2021, Oil and acrylic on canvas, 165.0 x 300.0 x 5.0cm
2021, Acrylic and lacquer on aluminum, 82.0 x 74.0 x 88.0cm
2021, Painted Bronze, 120.0 x 76.0 x 40.0cm
2021, Oil on canvas, 157.0 x 250.0 x 5.0cm
2021, Oil on canvas, 150.0 x 4.5 cm
2021, Oil on canvas, 150.0 x 150.0 x 4.5cm
2021, Acrylic and lacquer on stainless steel, 220.0 x 175.0 x 97.0cm
Lobster Banana (Collaboration Series)
2021, Oil on canvas, 132.0 x 163.0 x 5.0cm
Lobster Flower (Collaboration Series)
2021, Oil on canvas, 132.0 x 163.0 x 5.0cm
Lobster Fountain (Collaboration Series)
2021, Oil on canvas, 163.0 x 132.0 x 5.0cm
Lobster Fountain II (Collaboration Series)
2021, Oil on canvas, 132.0 x 163.0 x 5.0cm
2020, Acrylic and lacquer on bronze, 100.0 x 108.0 x 110.0cm
FLOWER STUDY
2020, Oil and acrylic on shaped canvas, 177.0 x 150.0 x 5.0cm
2020, Oil and acrylic on shaped canvas, 160.0 x 147.0 x 5.0cm
2020, Oil and acrylic on shaped canvas, 304.0 x 258.0 x 5.0cm
Brushstrokes from The Lobster Land Museum (Blue, Black, Magenta, Red, Yellow)
2021, Oil on canvas, 215cm
ABOUT
Philip Colbert
Philip Colbert
Born in Scotland, Philip Colbert currently lives and works in London.
Graduating from the University of St. Andrews, Colbert is inspired by early Pop painters such as Richard Hamilton, Roy Lichtenstein, and James Rosenquist. The artist explores the patterns of digital culture and its relationship with the art historical dialogue. By crossing high art themes from old master paintings and contemporary art theory with everyday symbols of contemporary culture, his works are narrated through the eyes of the Lobsterʼs alter ego. Championed as a contemporary pop master by prominent art world figures such as Charles Saatchi and Simon de Pury, Colbert has collaborated with luxury brands such as Rolex, Montblanc, Christian Louboutin, and COMME des GARÇONS. As curator Svetlana Marich notes, “artistic endeavours are quickly copied, co-opted and commodified into superficial faux-cultural entitles which briefly trend before their likes fizzle out and the hive mind of the internet moves onto something new. Colbertʼs work not only acknowledges this strange phenomenon, but circumvents it entirely. He inverts the trend, commodifying this fast-paced disregard for imagery and genre into frenetic popculture landscape rife with symbolism and satire.” His solo first solo exhibition in Hong Kong and Taipei was held at Whitestone Gallery in 2019 and 2020.
PUBLIC ART
Greeting viewers of the lobster’s arrival, Colbert has cultivated giant inflatable lobsters globally in conjunction to his exhibitions that includes the Duke of York Square in London, Lee Tung Avenue in Hong Kong, and recently in Taipei’s Miramar Square and Huashan Creative Park.
*Public Art commission consultations available.
Contact us
EXHIBITIONS
Lobster Land: HK H Queenʼs 7-8/F
May 23 - June 28, 2019
