Philip Colbert (British, b.1979) Lobster Grater
polished steel Executed in 2017 99 cm. (39 in.) high Provenance: With UNIT, London, 26 July 2018, where purchased by the present ownerNotes: "We live in a world of ultra pop saturation, a sort of mega pop world where mass intake of Instagram and social media imagery merges with artistic memory." - Philip Colbert Philip Colbert, born in Scotland, has created a global following and is recognisable for his contemporary art practice using his recurring alter ego: a cartoonish lobster. Originally studying at St Andrews and graduating with a Master's in Philosophy, the London-based artist blends surrealism, pop art, and classical art history to create a visual language that explores consumerism and modern absurdity. Rather than sticking to a single format, Colbert translates his hyper-pop universe across diverse mediums, ranging from monumental steel installations to raw works on paper. This is very much exemplified in the two examples. In his Lobster Grater, Colbert merges the heavy, industrial finish of stainless steel with the mundane form of a cheese grater, transforming it into the body of his lobster persona. By elevating a standard kitchen utensil into a gleaming pop artefact, he channels the surrealist tradition of repurposing everyday objects. The sleek, mirror-like medium gives substantial, physical weight to an inherently absurd, cartoonish concept. In contrast is his work, Lion Hunt Study. This drawing departs from his typically saturated colour palettes. In this charcoal drawing on deckled-edge paper, Colbert engages with classical, monochromatic techniques. The piece reimagines a chaotic, Rubens-style historical battle scene, substituting traditional warriors with his lobster alter ego, fried-egg patterns, emojis, and currency symbols. By using a raw, historical medium to depict a hyper-modern clash, Colbert actively bridges the gap between antiquity and digital-age visual overload. Philip Colbert’s artistic practice operates as a vibrant collision between the classical past and the hyper-stimulated present, anchored by his cartoon lobster alter ego. He uses this surrealist avatar to navigate a sprawling, multimedia universe that explores the absurdities of modern life. Drawing on the surrealist tradition, his lobster specifically nods to figures like Salvador Dalí, who used the lobster as the subject matter. For Colbert, rather than merely a surrealist object, Colbert’s lobster in the 21st Century acts as a mirror to the sensory overload of internet culture and mass consumption. By cramming canvases with emojis, branded logos, currency symbols, and pop-culture icons, he captures the frantic energy of doom-scrolling and digital media. Colbert’s practice extends far beyond the traditional gallery wall. By translating his vision into monumental steel sculptures, fashion lines, digital VR spaces (dubbed "Lobsteropolis"), and NFTs, he treats his own persona and brand as a living, sprawling art installation. Through this relentless cross-pollination of eras and mediums, Colbert questions what holds cultural value in a society driven by rapid-fire consumption and internet aesthetics.
[ translate ]polished steel Executed in 2017 99 cm. (39 in.) high Provenance: With UNIT, London, 26 July 2018, where purchased by the present ownerNotes: "We live in a world of ultra pop saturation, a sort of mega pop world where mass intake of Instagram and social media imagery merges with artistic memory." - Philip Colbert Philip Colbert, born in Scotland, has created a global following and is recognisable for his contemporary art practice using his recurring alter ego: a cartoonish lobster. Originally studying at St Andrews and graduating with a Master's in Philosophy, the London-based artist blends surrealism, pop art, and classical art history to create a visual language that explores consumerism and modern absurdity. Rather than sticking to a single format, Colbert translates his hyper-pop universe across diverse mediums, ranging from monumental steel installations to raw works on paper. This is very much exemplified in the two examples. In his Lobster Grater, Colbert merges the heavy, industrial finish of stainless steel with the mundane form of a cheese grater, transforming it into the body of his lobster persona. By elevating a standard kitchen utensil into a gleaming pop artefact, he channels the surrealist tradition of repurposing everyday objects. The sleek, mirror-like medium gives substantial, physical weight to an inherently absurd, cartoonish concept. In contrast is his work, Lion Hunt Study. This drawing departs from his typically saturated colour palettes. In this charcoal drawing on deckled-edge paper, Colbert engages with classical, monochromatic techniques. The piece reimagines a chaotic, Rubens-style historical battle scene, substituting traditional warriors with his lobster alter ego, fried-egg patterns, emojis, and currency symbols. By using a raw, historical medium to depict a hyper-modern clash, Colbert actively bridges the gap between antiquity and digital-age visual overload. Philip Colbert’s artistic practice operates as a vibrant collision between the classical past and the hyper-stimulated present, anchored by his cartoon lobster alter ego. He uses this surrealist avatar to navigate a sprawling, multimedia universe that explores the absurdities of modern life. Drawing on the surrealist tradition, his lobster specifically nods to figures like Salvador Dalí, who used the lobster as the subject matter. For Colbert, rather than merely a surrealist object, Colbert’s lobster in the 21st Century acts as a mirror to the sensory overload of internet culture and mass consumption. By cramming canvases with emojis, branded logos, currency symbols, and pop-culture icons, he captures the frantic energy of doom-scrolling and digital media. Colbert’s practice extends far beyond the traditional gallery wall. By translating his vision into monumental steel sculptures, fashion lines, digital VR spaces (dubbed "Lobsteropolis"), and NFTs, he treats his own persona and brand as a living, sprawling art installation. Through this relentless cross-pollination of eras and mediums, Colbert questions what holds cultural value in a society driven by rapid-fire consumption and internet aesthetics.
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