LONDON.- Pearl Lam Galleries announced the representation of British artist Philip Colbert. A selection of paintings by Colbert will be presented by the gallery during Art Basel Hong Kong. Pearl Lam Galleries Shanghai will also host a large solo exhibition of new works by the artist later this year.

Philip Colbert’s practice establishes a dialogue between contemporary mass culture and an art historical canon through the lens of his iconic lobster persona. His hyper-pop aesthetic intertwines everyday and digital symbolism with painterly compositions and contemporary art theory. Colbert works across disciplines, including painting, sculpture, furniture, design, and digital art, with the lobster iconography acting as a central protagonist.

Colbert follows the works of the early, formative pop-art artists, including Richard Hamilton, Roy Lichtenstein, and James Rosenquist, and the techniques of the Old Masters such as Peter Paul Rubens. He has been described as the “godson of Andy Warhol” with his works garnering global recognition.

Colbert’s works have been exhibited around the world and by institutions including the Times Art Museum (China; 2021), the Modern Art Museum (Shanghai, 2020), Tate Modern (London; 2015), Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam; 2015), and many more. In 2021, Colbert presented LOBSTEROPOLIS CITY, a digital exhibition staged within the metaverse and curated by the renowned auctioneer Simon de Pury. Through collaborations with Bentley Motors, Rolex, COMME des GARÇONS and Adidas, he continues to explore the intersection of art across multiple disciplines and popular culture.

During Art Basel Hong Kong, Pearl Lam Galleries will exhibit a new series by Colbert that situates his lobster character within the history of portraiture. Within these paintings, he references Andy Warhol’s iconic Warhol soup can and transforms it into a costume for the lobster to demonstrate the infinite potential of reinvention

Born in Scotland, Colbert now lives and works in London. He graduated from the University of St. Andrews with an MA in Philosophy.

Born in Scotland and living and working in London, 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 garnered a global following for his cartoon lobster persona and his masterful hyper-pop history paintings. He has been championed by art world figures such as Charles Saatchi & Simon De Pury. His work powerfully explores the patterns of contemporary digital culture and its relationship with a more profound art historical dialogue.

“I became an artist when I became a Lobster.” —Philip Colbert