Adam Umbach’s Lobster Series Captures the Joy of American Summer

We are happy  to share a vibrant new series from New York City-based artist Adam Umbach, whose bold, colorful lobster paintings evoke a deep sense of celebration, nostalgia, and the communal spirit of summer.

For Adam – who grew up in the Midwest and spent his summers on the East Coast – lobsters were always a sign of something special. Later, while living and working in the Hamptons and Maine, he saw how lobster culture transcends social class. Whether you’re enjoying a backyard boil or a luxe seaside dinner, lobster is about connection, relaxation, and shared experience. Though each lobster in the series is painted solo, the works radiate a collective energy and hum with that sense of togetherness.

Known for his signature style juxtaposing photorealistic everyday objects with thick, expressionistic strokes. Using his non-dominant hand to render playful lines and forms that feel lifted straight from a childhood drawing, the result is a body of work that blurs technical precision with unfiltered emotional memory, an artistic conversation between past and present.

Adam’s work is rich with contrasts: permanence vs. impermanence, innocence vs. experience, control vs. play. His work invites viewers to reconnect with their own inner child, however bittersweet. He is currently represented by Cavalier Gallery and works across oil, acrylic, aerosol, and experimental tools.