Pantone Color of the Year 2018 Is a 'Provocative and Thoughtful Purple'

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Pantone Color of the Year 2018 Is a 'Provocative and Thoughtful Purple'

NEW YORK, New York
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December 07, 2017

The Rothko Chapel is a non-denominational chapel in Houston, Texas founded by John and Dominique de Menil and opened in 1971. "The mission of the Rothko Chapel is to inspire people to action through art and contemplation, to nurture reverence for the highest aspirations of humanity, and to provide a forum for global concerns." - Rothko Chapel Mission Statement

Pocket Flask, Henry William Stiegel, 1765-1774. Collection of Corning Museum of Glass.

Think purple in the richest hue of colonial-era glass, the Pop Art punch of Warhol, or a contemplative Rothko canvas, and expect to see the shade appear more in art, fashion and design --- Ultra Violet has been named the 2018 PANTONE color of the year.

PANTONE announces:

A dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade, PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.

Complex and contemplative, Ultra Violet suggests the mysteries of the cosmos, the intrigue of what lies ahead, and the discoveries beyond where we are now. The vast and limitless night sky is symbolic of what is possible and continues to inspire the desire to pursue a world beyond our own.

Andy Warhol's purple Self Portrait sold at Sotheby's in 2010 for $32.6 million.

Enigmatic purples have also long been symbolic of counterculture, unconventionality, and artistic brilliance. Musical icons Prince, David Bowie, and Jimi Hendrix brought shades of Ultra Violet to the forefront of western pop culture as personal expressions of individuality. Nuanced and full of emotion, the depth of PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet symbolizes experimentation and non-conformity, spurring individuals to imagine their unique mark on the world, and push boundaries through creative outlets.

Historically, there has been a mystical or spiritual quality attached to Ultra Violet. The color is often associated with mindfulness practices, which offer a higher ground to those seeking refuge from today’s over-stimulated world. The use of purple-toned lighting in meditation spaces and other gathering places energizes the communities that gather there and inspire connection.

“The Pantone Color of the Year has come to mean so much more than ‘what’s trending’ in the world of design; it’s truly a reflection of what’s needed in our world today.” – Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute.