Scottish 'godson of Andy Warhol' to exhibit sculptures in Pompeii in first of its kind display

Philip Colbert’s Pop Mythology, a landmark site-specific exhibition at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, is to go on display later this month.

The exhibition is the first contemporary sculpture exhibition in the ancient site in 30 years and the first time any artist has ever exhibited in the houses of Pompeii.

Colbert, who is often referred to as the “Godson of Andy Warhol”, exhibits across Europe, Asia and the US. A previous exhibition three years ago of 12 sculptures along the Via Veneto and the entrance of Villa Borghese in Rome attracted the attention of the authorities from the Archaeological Park of Pompeii who asked him to consider placing some of his work on his ancient site.

Born in Perthshire and a philosophy graduate from the University of St Andrews, Colbert has created a global following for his iconic cartoon lobster persona and his hyper-pop history paintings. The exhibition, which opens on Tuesday and features over 30 of Colbert's lobster sculptures, is inspired by Pompeii’s own ancient art, including the celebrated lobster mosaic in the House of the Faun.

Colbert said he had had a fascination with Pompeii since he was a child.

He said: “When I first went to Pompeii on a site visit, I was thinking ‘Wow, this is crazy’, because it’s a place I’ve been inspired by for so long. My dad took me to a Roman fort outside Perth when I was young and we went looking for Roman coins and nails - it was mind blowing to find real Roman artefacts.

“When I went to Pompeii, it all came rushing back to me. Here I was, with my art to be able to tap into history and time and to be in a place which is such a definitive icon of what archaeology means. The myth and storytelling around Pompeii means it is a place which has this cult status.”

He added: “The ruins of Pompeii embody both tragedy and beauty, and the city itself feels suspended between past and present.”

Colbert visited Pompeii for a final time last week to put the final touches to the exhibition.

He said: “It was great to be there, because when you’ve been working on something for so long, it is amazing to see it finished.”

The exhibition will include colourful stainless steel lobster sculptures and bronze patina works appearing amongst columns, arches and ancient ruins. Alongside them, a new trilogy of monumental black steel sculptures Mr Colbert has dubbed “future mythological relics”, including robotic lobster warriors, will appear as speculative ruins from an imagined future.

Beyond the main archaeological site, works will also be presented across satellite locations including the Villa of Poppaea, Boscoreale, Villa San Marco and Villa Arianna, extending the exhibition across Pompeii’s wider cultural landscape.

Alessandro Giuli, the Italian Minister of Culture, will inaugurate the exhibition on Tuesday.