Colour

It can reflect and affect our emotions and form great works of art. It has the power to symbolise who we are and what we believe, and is at the heart of some of our most enduring traditions.

This new exhibition brings together over 150 objects spanning art, science, nature and cultural histories, alongside a range of interactive activities. Explore a spectacular world of colour – how we see it, how it’s made, how it’s used and what it means.

Discover artwork by Hokusai, Kandinsky, Bridget Riley, Andy Warhol and more, alongside examples of exquisitely crafted decorative ceramics. See beautiful bird plumage and iridescent insects which show how colour is used in the natural world and textiles demonstrating the rich spectrum of natural and manmade pigments and dyes.

Outfits including a diamante-studded Trinidadian carnival costume and Victorian mourning dress illustrate how colour can imbue clothing with cultural significance, while examples of pre-historic gold jewellery show the value of colour across millennia.

The exhibition also features a striking Rangoli sand art installation and a new large-scale mural by artist Grace Visions, created as part of Sheffield’s Lick of Paint street art festival.