This February, Unit London and Saatchi Gallery brought Philip Colbert's monumental 'Hunt Paintings' to Los Angeles as part of the Frieze LA VIP Programme.
Like British pop artists before him such as David Hockney and Derek Boshier, Colbert’s work is heavily connected to California and American pop culture, light and landscape. Having grown up in Califoria, Colbert’s adoration of American signage culture is very apparent in both his larger oil paintings and the way in which he has customised the former Taschen gallery space for his Los Angeles show.
Colbert begins to immerse you in his fascinating world of art the moment you see the space from a few blocks away. Colbert’s signature logomaniac graphics wrap both the inside and outside of the venue, and an unmistakable and inquisitive 4-meter lobster figure perches on top of the building, watching over the nearby crossroads.
Over the last two years, from his studio in Shoreditch, Philip Colbert has gradually but forcefully stepped up his artistic vision. Hunt Paintings, which was previously presented by Unit London at Saatchi Gallery in London represents a breakthrough in scale for Colbert, with his largest work, Dark Hunt Tripytch, measuring to an astounding 18 feet in length.
These paintings are large yet incredibly detailed, funny yet complex, and unique in their ability to simultaneously reference artworks from the art historical canon and present the overwhelming intensity of the contemporary consumer mindset. The fully engrossing quality inherent in these works complements the equally immersive setting for the Los Angeles leg of the Hunt Paintings world tour.
So what is next for Philip Colbert? The show in Los Angeles is a testament to Philip’s ability to quickly rise through the gears of his own creativity and bring to life an artistic vision that most could only dream of. Following the release of a song with legendary auctioneer Simon de Pury and a set of merchandise, including toys and posters, in tandem with the show, it is clear that Philip’s vision extends far beyond the confines of the traditional art world. He currently has a virtual reality Lobster Land experience in production and has even larger plans to create a physical theme park for his sculptural works in Joshua Tree.
Hunt Paintings is open until 11 March at the former Taschen Gallery, 8070 Beverley Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90048.