Artist and filmmaker Charlotte Colbert and pop artist Philip Colbert launch limited-edition product range with a colourful pop-up at The Conran Shop.
Bringing art and surrealism into the design brand’s flagship store on Sloane Square, the takeover will feature furniture, sculptures and objects from the artists’ design portfolio and will be in place at The Conran Shop from tomorrow Tuesday 22nd July – 26th August 2024.
Charlotte, who has been described as the ‘lovechild’ of Emily Dickinson and Salvador Dali, and Philip, often dubbed the ‘godson of Andy Warhol’, have joined creative forces to introduce a collection of limited-edition objects for the home.
Crockery, linens and scented candles will feature within the immersive pop-up space alongside larger pieces. Charlotte’s ‘Love Bed’ and ‘Eye-conic’ Eye Chairs will be available alongside Philip’s ‘Lobster Chair’, ‘Lobster Telephone’ and iconic hunt paintings, which have been showcased in museums worldwide, including The Saatchi Gallery and most recently at the MANN, the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
I have always loved the spirit of art for everybody, and making my artworks more accessible to a wider audience
said Philip Colbert.
I love the idea of bringing surrealism into the everyday. If simple things can be re-imagined and reinvented then so can the structures and systems in which we live. Surrealism invites us to dream of
adds Charlotte Colbert.
better futures
Housed on the ground floor at The Conran Shop’s Sloane Square emporium, the popup is split into two room-sets, showcasing each artist’s symbolic style and iconic design pieces. Charlotte’s romantic and whimsical collection is offset by Philip’s primary colourful pop art creations.
Mark Upstone, Head of Creative at The Conran Shop said:
Both artists have brought their respective iconic motif and style into the space, Philip his infamous Lobster and Charlotte her Eye – the pop-up was designed around these two symbols, creating a vibrant, fun and inspirational environment. It complements The Conran Shop’s collections in an unexpected yet exceptional way
The last few years have accelerated Charlotte Colbert’s already successful course through the art world and film industry. In 2022, she released her first feature, a feminist parable She Will, which she directed. The film, starring Malcolm McDowell, Rupert Everett, Alice Krige and Kota Eberhart, received outstanding
critical acclaim in the national and international media, including The Guardian, The Evening Standard, The Times, Empire and The New York Times. Last October 2023 during Frieze art fair, Charlotte followed-up her movie’s success with an art exhibition at Fitzrovia Chapel, London. Dreamland Sirens was a solo show that included sculptures, a soundscape by Isabel Waller-Bridge and performances
centred around her eye icon.
Philip Colbert too has been a considerable force on the global art scene. The pop artist has taken over European cities (Rome, 2022), sent a giant lobster on a barge down canals in Venice as part of the Biennale (2022) and masterminded multiple public art spectacles, wonderlands and lobster skate parks alongside museum shows in various destinations across South East Asia, including Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei, to name but a few. Philip has also collaborated with AS ROMA, unveiling a football kit for the team, a giant lobster at their stadium and a charity project with the football giants for The Red Cross. Earlier this year, he did a takeover of the MANN, National Museum of Naples, creating new works inspired by key pieces from their iconic collection.
Now Charlotte and Philip bring their individual iconographies to The Conran Shop. As storytellers, their key motifs, themes and fascination with symbolism is brought to life through their furniture, curios and homeware. With Salvador Dali as their reference point – an artist who created iconic furniture pieces including a sofa based on Mae West’s lips and a telephone (in shape of a lobster) as well as paintings – their collection showcases their own personal contemporary riffs on surrealism. Fully designed for living, playful lobsters and totemic eyes now have playful, functional and practical uses.
Colbert x The Conran Shop pop-up, 22nd July – 26th August 2024 The Conran Shop, Sloane Square
About the artists
Charlotte Colbert is a Franco-British film director and multi-media artist which the Evening Standard described as “a natural born magician.” Her practice ranges from artistic installations which incorporate sculpture, photography and performative elements, to narrative feature-length films. Her directorial debut was praised by the New York Times and won the Golden Leopard for Best First Picture. She has collaborated with the likes of Cillian Murphy, Malcolm McDowell, Rupert Everett, Lily Cole, Clint Mansell, Omar Sy and Eric Cantona to name a few. Her work has strong philosophical undertones and often questions narrative, time, identity, dreams and the unconscious. The surreal and fantastical become a way to look at our world afresh and find the space to question and reimagine. @colbertcharlotte
Born in Scotland and living and working in London, Philip Colbert is often referred to as the “godson of Andy Warhol.” He has created a global following for his cartoon lobster persona and his masterful hyper-pop history paintings and sculptures. His work powerfully explores the patterns of contemporary digital culture and its relationship to a deeper art historical dialogue.
After graduating with an MA in Philosophy from St. Andrews University, Colbert’s work has received international acclaim in museums and galleries worldwide for his energetic new approach to painting and pop theory. Following on from early Pop painters such as Richard Hamilton, Roy Lichtenstein and James Rosenquist, Colbert’s paintings cross high art themes from old master paintings and contemporary art
theory with everyday symbols of mass contemporary culture, all narrated through the eyes of Colbert’s cartoon Lobster alter ego. He has been championed as a contemporary pop master by art world figures such as Charles Saatchi & Simon de Pury. @philipcolbert
About The Conran Shop
Founded by Sir Terence Conran in 1973, The Conran Shop has established itself as one of the world’s leading lifestyle retailers, curating how we live today. As the home of iconic designs and future classics, The Conran Shop offers an eclectic, hand-selected edit of furniture, lighting, and home accessories, with prime retail locations across London, Kuwait, Japan, and South Korea.
