What is colour? Why does it mean different things in different cultures and times? And how has colour been linked to power, value, and prejudice?

From the deep blues of religious iconography to the fiery reds of protest, Colour reveals how colour is far more than just something we see. It is something we feel, express, celebrate, and sometimes even fear. Packed with vibrant artworks, surprising stories, and interactive displays, the exhibition will challenge visitors to rethink their relationship with colour in all its emotional, symbolic, and sensory dimensions.

The show will feature works by celebrated artists including Wassily Kandinsky, whose woodcut Orientalisches from his synaesthetic album Klänge explores the emotional power of colour and sound; Andy Warhol’s iconic 1967 Marilyn Monroe, a pop art triumph in saturated colourways; Roy Lichtenstein’s shimmering Moonscape (1965), printed on rowlux; and Katsushika Hokusai’s atmospheric landscape Mishima Pass in Kai Province from Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.

The exhibition also includes striking pieces such as Bronze Age gold jewellery from the Tullie collection, and showcases how colour appears across nature through examples like the vivid plumage of the ruby-topaz hummingbird. Alongside these are more everyday uses of colour, from cosmetics to Cadbury’s purple; revealing how colour has long held power and meaning in our daily lives. Visitors will also encounter thought-provoking social history objects that explore the complexities of race, skin tone, and identity. These sit alongside modern artistic responses, which reflect on how colour continues to influence both personal experience and shared cultural understanding across time.

Colour: A season of shades, tints & tones has been created for the Museums and Galleries Network for Exhibition Touring (MAGNET), with Art Fund support and supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.