Philip Colbert
United Kingdom
Born in Scotland, Philip Colbert currently lives and works in London. After graduating from the University of St. Andrews, Colbert found inspiration in the works of early Pop painters such as Richard Hamilton, Roy Lichtenstein, and James Rosenquist. He explores the patterns of digital culture and its relationship with the art historical dialogue by fusing high art themes from old master paintings and contemporary art theory with everyday symbols of contemporary culture. Colbert narrates his works through the eyes of the Lobster's alter ego.
Championed as a contemporary pop master by prominent figures in the art world, 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 noted by curator Svetlana Marich, “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. Colbert's 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 a frenetic pop-culture landscape rife with symbolism and satire.”