Pop artist Philip Colbert, renowned for his vibrant use of colour and surrealist style, continues to captivate with his latest creative venture. Known as "The Lobster Man," Colbert tackles themes of artificial intelligence in a bold new series of battle-themed artworks.
Running from November 29, 2024, to January 13, 2025, the show will present six large-scale hunt-themed paintings and sculptures, blending his signature aesthetic with a fresh narrative perspective.
Philip Colbert, celebrated for his hyper-pop history paintings, continues his exploration of battle scenes in a landmark solo exhibition.
In The Battle for Lobsteropolis, his iconic lobster character journeys through time, facing off against artificial intelligence in imaginative reworkings of historical conflicts. Central to the exhibit are two monumental AI-assisted paintings where Colbert’s lobster engages in epic clashes with the tech world.
While many AI experts warn of an impending technological reckoning, Colbert takes a nuanced approach, crafting a vision where art history and digital innovation intersect. Rather than sounding alarms, his work invites reflection on how AI reshapes our understanding of art. This tension between tradition and progress is particularly evident in Colbert’s reinterpretation of a 2,000-year-old masterpiece from Pompeii. In After Battle of Issus Mosaic, he reimagines the famed "Alexander the Great" mosaic—currently housed at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, where Colbert exhibited earlier this year—relocating it to his dystopian realm of Lobsteropolis. Here, Colbert’s lobster battles an advancing army of AI avatars, challenging viewers to reconsider the enduring relevance of art history in the digital age.
The show also features a series of striking sculptures inspired by classical mythological figures like the Centaur, Minotaur, and Medusa. Colbert’s playful reinterpretations emphasise mythology’s timeless themes, highlighting its resonance in a world shaped by contemporary issues.
Dubbed the “godson of Andy Warhol” by André Leon Talley (late editor of US Vogue), Colbert’s work fuses pop culture, geopolitics, and current events into a vibrant, hyper-pop aesthetic. His recurring lobster motif, central to his artistic identity, symbolizes surrealism and the absurdity of modern life. This fascination began in his youth, evolving into a signature style when he donned a lobster-patterned suit and embraced his moniker, “The Lobster Man.” Reflecting on this transformation, Colbert says, “I became an artist when I became a lobster.”
The Battle for Lobsteropolis caps off an extraordinary year for Colbert. It began with a high-profile collaboration with Vogue and his debut solo exhibition in Singapore at the Whitestone Gallery in January.
In March, Philip Colbert unveiled House of the Lobster, a unique event held at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, home to the world’s largest collection of Roman artifacts.
April saw Colbert extend his collaboration with AS ROMA in support of The Red Cross. After designing a special-edition football kit worn by the team and showcasing a giant inflatable lobster at Stadio Olimpico, he joined forces with players Leonardo Spinazzola, Paulo Dybala, Leandro Paredes, and Stephan El Shaarawy. Together, they created a one-of-a-kind painting that blended the worlds of art and football.
In the summer, Colbert took over London’s The Conran Shop. Partnering with his wife, visual artist and filmmaker Charlotte Colbert, the duo transformed the store into an immersive installation of their surreal world. Featuring bespoke furniture and exclusive homewares, the display brought their theatrical vision—described by US Vogue as a “theatrical funhouse”—into the public eye, making surrealism accessible for any home.
By September, Colbert traveled to Seoul to debut his largest inflatable artwork yet: the Giant Lobster King. This colossal 16-meter sculpture, set afloat on a giant rubber ring in Lake Seokchon, marked Lotte Mall’s 10th anniversary. His whimsical sculptures also adorned the mall’s interior and outdoor spaces, drawing fans and K-pop stars alike, including Dishoon, Yoshi from Treasure, and Jennie Kim. Simultaneously, Colbert’s solo show at the Next Museum turned the Seoul district into a playful lobster-themed wonderland.
Following a whirlwind year of global exhibitions and public installations, the Saatchi Gallery showcase in London promises to end the year on a high note.
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