Philip Colbert's Lobster Sculptures Invade Pompeii's Archaeological Park

British Pop artist Philip Colbert has installed over 30 monumental lobster sculptures across Pompeii's Archaeological Park and surrounding sites in the largest site-specific project of his career. The exhibition, titled "Philip Colbert in Pompeii: Pop Mythology," opened on July 27 and runs until November 30, curated by Cesare Biasini Selvaggi and organized by Il Cigno Arte in collaboration with the Parco Archeologico di Pompei. Colbert's signature anthropomorphic lobster alter ego appears in stainless steel, bronze, and black steel, including robot lobster warriors conceived as "relics of the future." The works are placed among ancient ruins, domus, and columns, creating a dialogue between Pop Art and antiquity. The exhibition extends beyond Pompeii to Longola, Boscoreale, Oplontis, Villa San Marco, Villa Arianna, and the Real Polverificio Borbonico. At Longola, a site recently damaged by arson, a sculpture serves as a gesture of solidarity. Colbert draws inspiration from Pompeii's marine mosaics, particularly the one from the House of the Faun now at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. Park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel emphasized the project's role in community healing. Colbert described Pompeii as "the city of antiquity par excellence, a place that exists beyond time." The exhibition aims to engage audiences who may not typically visit museums or contemporary art.