Philip Colbert is a mini-survey of themes which Colbert has worked with across his career. It features eleven new paintings, including a selection of character paintings; Colbert’s iconic lobster persona paintings; and what the artist calls “dialogue paintings,” which feature a subject and a background with layered shapes, text, and costumed personas.
Colbert is most known for his Neo-Pop Surrealism which is personified by his cartoon lobster character. Often referred to as the “godson of Andy Warhol,” his practice evokes the style of his Pop art forebears such as Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, while also paying homage to other influential figures across the Western art historical canon, from Vincent van Gogh and Anthony Van Dyck, to contemporary artists, such as Yayoi Kusama and George Condo. Most of his cheeky, satirical works feature the lobster character as the central subject.
“Appropriation in my art world…keeps you anchored into the dialogue, our historical recognition,” says Colbert about his use of Warhol’s lexicon. “People [then] draw references.”
Familiarity is critical to Colbert’s work. He often combines the banal and comical with references to ‘prestigious’ works, creating accessible conversations in art. For Colbert, the purpose of his work revolves around “believing in the poetry of everyday language” while remaining “unpretentious” about his designs. The artist philosophizes that humor is an essential component of life, inextricably seen across his oeuvre.
About the Artist
Philip Colbert is a graduate of the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, UK, where he received a Masters in Philosophy. He has exhibited at internationally-recognized institutions, including the Tate Modern, London (2015); Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (2015); Times Art Museum, Chongqing (2021); Sejong Art Centra, Seoul (2021); Modern Art Museum, Shanghai (2020); Saatchi Gallery, London (2020); Multimedia Art Museum, Moscow (2020); and Chengdu Museum of Contemporary Art, Chengdu (2018). He is represented in Asia by Pearl Lam Galleries. Colbert has also collaborated with luxury brands such as Bentley Motors, Rolex, Montblanc, Christian Louboutin, COMME des GARÇONS, and Adidas.
