Living and working in London. Colbert is known for his multidisciplinary approach, creating a “World of Art”. Deeply entwined with pop theory, Colbert works across the mediums of painting, sculpture, clothing, furniture & design. Described as “the Godson of Andy Warhol” by Andre Leon Talley.
Colbert’s large scale oil paintings push the boundaries of contemporary narrative painting, they follow on from a dialogue established by artists such as Richard Hamilton, James Rosenquist and Roy Lichtenstein.
Colbert had his first large scale paintings show at Saatchi Gallery titled NEW PAINTINGS in 2017.
“Colbert’s works are a triumphant orchestration of appropriation with his masterful weaving of self-expression narrated by his Avatar alter Ego lobster character” said Mila Askarova.
Colbert refers to his alter ego as “the animated protagonist of surrealism”. Colbert‘s paintings bring together old master influences from Rubens to Van Dyck and his obsession with contemporary consumer imagery and the saturation of digital media.
“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,” says Colbert as he describes his practice which draws inspiration from a variety of moments related to the creation and success of pop art. Everything from the porcelain urinal of dadaist Marcel Duchamp and the colour blocking by Piet Mondrian all the way to the works of the father of pop art Andy Warhol and his peers Roy Lichtenstein and James Rosenquist – it all sits insides Philip Colbert’s imaginary Tumblr scrapbook that’s made for reblogs.
“I am interested in art of the everyday. I am inspired by everyday symbols that can unlock profound meaning, In addition to painting, I want to wallpaper my life with these ideas and symbols, from my suits, cars and interiors. For me, life and living is the ultimate essence of art”
Colbert‘s sculptural work includes his infamous wearable artworks, such as the “Urinal Dress, Meat Dress & Washing Machine Dress”. Many of which are in important public and private collections worldwide.
