Singapore, 24 January 2026 – International contemporary artist Philip Colbert unveils ‘Lobster Beach’, a large-scale public art takeover that transforms Tanjong Beach on Sentosa Island into a vibrant outdoor exhibition. Spanning land, sea and skyline, this project marks one of the most expansive artist-led interventions in the public realm in Singapore’s history.
In a bold reimagining of one of Singapore’s most recognisable leisure landscapes, Colbert turns Tanjong Beach and Tanjong Beach Club into a playful sculptural playground. His iconic Lobster works are installed directly onto the shoreline. At the heart of the takeover stands Lobster Ice Cream, a monumental eight-metre tall steel sculpture that towers over the beach. This semi-permanent installation establishes a new iconic artistic landmark for the city.
Across the sand, a series of large Lobster inflatables, including the Lobster Shark, Lobster Octopus and Lobster Fish, reinterpret Colbert’s alter ego in marine hybrid forms. Echoing the familiarity of mascots while drawing on historical references such as Claes Oldenburg’s soft sculptures of everyday objects, these playful works transform the beach into a surreal pop-art environment that invites interaction, photography and shared social experiences.
“I’m excited to have such a large-scale sculpture in such an iconic and beautiful location in Singapore,” says Colbert. “In my travels, I’ve often been struck by how artworks can integrate deeply with the landscape. When they connect with the local community, they create a higher social impact and become genuine landmarks of a city. Creating Lobster Beach felt like the perfect context to celebrate the natural world and our interaction with it in a playful, fun way, while also creating a local icon. Thanks to the vision of the Sentosa local government, I’m honoured that my Lobster Ice Cream sculpture will have a home in Singapore for years to come.”
Colbert’s Lobster takeover extends beyond Sentosa. Coinciding with Singapore Art Week, the artist will present a solo exhibition, Temple of the Sunflower, at Whitestone Gallery from 24 January to 14 March 2026, alongside a special appearance at Art SG from 23 to 25 January 2026.
At Whitestone Gallery, Temple of the Sunflower embraces the transcendent energy of colour. Known for his hyper-pop visual language, Colbert stages a dialogue of colour between floral motifs and abstract painting, honing in on micro-detail and the surface of the canvas. At Art SG, Colbert will display brand new, never-before seen sculptures for sale.
Together, Lobster Beach, the gallery exhibition and Colbert’s Art SG appearance form an unprecedented convergence of public art, gallery practice and international art fair culture, reinforcing Singapore’s position as a leading cultural capital in Asia.
