Known as the “godson of Andy Warhol,” Philip Colbert is a distinctive presence in contemporary art. With a self-invented alter ego - an exuberant cartoon lobster, Colbert has built a world that playfully blends Pop Art, philosophy, surrealism, and a healthy dose of humour.
Photograph: Ben Awin
Whether he's creating monumental sculptures or digitally-rendered dreamscapes, Colbert uses his work to examine big ideas: identity, consumerism, mortality, absurdity. And at the heart of it all? A lobster.
The Lobster
For Colbert, the lobster isn’t just a quirky mascot, it’s a symbol rich with history and meaning. From ancient Greek pottery and Dutch still lifes to Salvador Dalí’s surrealist Lobster Telephone, the crustacean has long represented mortality, power, temptation and transformation.
“In antiquity, it was part of the ‘triangle of death’ with the eel and octopus, symbolising the circle of life,” Colbert explains. “Its red hue signified death, yet it was often depicted alive, its claws raised as if still moving.”
Philip Colbert
This paradox between life and death, seriousness and absurdity sits at the core of Colbert's artistic practice.
He first discovered the lobster’s symbolic power while studying philosophy at the University of St Andrews, where his fascination with art, myth and metaphor began to take centre stage.
Saatchi Gallery
Colbert’s practice is rooted in “fun and accessible surrealism.” Through his lobster persona, he makes complex ideas digestible, drawing inspiration from his philosophical background to ask timeless questions through a lens of contemporary culture.
His work is a riot of references - fried eggs become metaphors for birth, emojis collide with Renaissance motifs, and classic paintings are reimagined with a hyper-saturated Pop Art twist. The result? Visual worlds that feel as profound as they are playful.
“I’ve always been drawn to symbols that are accessible yet layered with meaning… I wanted to prove that storytelling and humour could simplify philosophy without losing its depth.” Philip Colbert
Saatchi Gallery
Notable Works and Projects
Colbert’s career spans gallery walls and public squares alike. Most recently in 2025, he exhibited The Lobster Painter, a monumental 7.5-metre steel sculpture at K11 MUSEA in Hong Kong reimagining the artist in lobster form, brush in claw.
His work has been shown at prestigious institutions including the Venice Biennale, and he continues to blur the lines between traditional art forms and cutting-edge digital experiences through virtual reality and metaverse exhibitions.
Like his lobster, Colbert wriggles between dimensions - commenting on the chaos of the digital age with satire, colour, and a keen eye for visual storytelling.
Saatchi Gallery
Philip Colbert at Enter Gallery
If you're looking to bring some of Colbert's unmistakable energy into your space, Enter Gallery is proud to offer a curated collection of his prints:
Flowers Round – Colbert’s pop homage to Warhol's iconic floral prints, complete with gloss varnish and embossed shapes. Printed and published by Coriander Studio
Lobster and Sunflowers - A witty reworking of Van Gogh’s iconic subject, rendered in Colbert’s cartoon surrealist style.
Printed at Worton Hall Studios, this edition, available in four colours was published by Coriander Studios and released at the Art Car Boot Fair in 2023.
View the full collection of prints by Philip Colbert here.
