9 Paintings By Michael Kerbow Of Dinosaurs Taking Over A Post-Climactic World

San Francisco artist Michael Kerbow presents a thought-provoking series of paintings called ‘Reversal of Fortune’. These artworks imagine a future shaped by the effects of late capitalism, showcasing a world marked by climate change. Kerbow’s vivid imagery features volcanic eruptions, floods, and polluted skies, all set against familiar symbols like fast food signs and crumbling roads overrun by Dinosaurs.

#1 “Late Capitalism”

#2 “Glade”

#3 “Highwater”

#4 “Adaptive Reuse”

#5 Michael Kerbow

Kerbow revealed that he was inspired to create this poignant series by the environment he was surrounded by during his early career. His first painting studio was located next door to a federal Superfund site which had been previously used as a landfill by the US Navy. What particularly stood out to him was that by the time he saw the landscape, it had transformed into a lush expanse of greenery interspersed with mysterious white pipes protruding from the ground, surrounded by a razor-wire fence. This ominous scene reminded him of a graveyard, which in turn got him wondering what could be buried underneath and whether he was exposed to any harmful toxins as a result. These concerns eventually led to the artist wondering about the broader impact of society’s hyper-consumerism attitude and how a lack of foresight may be negatively impacting our surrounding environment. 

#6 “Bypass”

#7 “Vestige (Golden Arches)”

#8 “Economic Decline”

#9 “Black Monday”

#10 “Oasis”

In a statement, Kerbow elaborated on the powerful message he hopes to relay through his art, “For over twenty years, I have created artwork that examines the underlying forces that drive our industrialised society.  I am intrigued by what motivates our collective pursuits and how our actions may affect our future viability.  I seek to question the rationale behind our choices as a society and try to reveal the dichotomy that may exist between what we desire and what we, in turn, manifest.  For example, I examine issues like hyper-consumerism, climate change, and other ecological threats.  My paintings are intended as allegories about our world and visions of our possible future.  I attempt to distil what I see happening today to hopefully allow others a means to understand what could await us tomorrow.  And although my paintings can sometimes be as sobering as they are thought-provoking, I use luscious colours and intricate detail to lure the eye.  I want to entice my viewers and invite them to contemplate the salient themes within my work.”