Although they may seem simple, colors carry complex psychological and cultural associations. The emotions they evoke often depend on our experiences, culture, and even our mood at the time. For example, red—the symbol of passion, life, and strength—can spark entirely different reactions in viewers: excitement or caution, love or anger. It's this ambiguity that artists use to create specific emotions in their work.
Take Mark Rothko, the American abstract expressionist painter, who explored the power of color on his large canvases. His works, though seemingly simple, resonate emotionally, pulling viewers into a state of meditation or deep introspection. Rothko believed that colors could provoke essential human emotions even without recognizable forms. His vast fields of red, black, and orange don’t tell a story—they convey a feeling.
Photo by Denisova Olesya Alexandrovna, used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Available at: Wikimedia Commons.
The Psychology of Color: A Scientific Perspective
Colors are far more than just an aesthetic choice—they play a crucial role in our mental and emotional well-being. For decades, scientists have studied how colors affect the human mind and body, and the findings are nothing short of fascinating. Each color stimulates different areas of the brain, triggering emotional responses that can be both conscious and subconscious.
For example, red is known to activate the nervous system powerfully. Studies show that red raises blood pressure, accelerates heart rate, and can even increase adrenaline levels. This is why red is often used in situations that demand attention or action—think warning signs, stoplights, or sales banners. Futurist artist Umberto Boccioni used red in his dynamic works to convey energy and movement, while Francis Bacon employed red tones to evoke discomfort and anxiety. Depending on its use, red can be both commanding and unsettling.
Image of Umberto Boccioni's 'La città che sale' from PICRYL, public domain. Available at - PICRYL
On the other hand, blue has the opposite effect. Research shows that blue calms the mind, lowers blood pressure, and promotes a sense of tranquility. It’s no wonder blue is often used in spaces meant for relaxation, like hospitals or bedrooms. In art, blue conveys introspective, meditative states. Yves Klein, famous for his exploration of blue, created works that immerse viewers in profound contemplation.
Yellow, in contrast, stimulates the brain. Associated with light, happiness, and optimism, psychologists have found that yellow can boost energy levels and encourage creativity. This explains why yellow is often used in advertising and workspaces where productivity is desired. In works like Claude Monet’s, yellow frequently symbolizes light and the joy of life. However, too much yellow can cause feelings of irritation and anxiety, a phenomenon backed by research on color and behavior.
Green, often linked to nature, renewal, and harmony, has scientific roots as well. Green reduces stress, relaxes the eyes, and fosters a sense of connection to the natural world. This is why green is commonly found in interior design and in artworks seeking to evoke balance and peace. The Impressionists, for example, often used green to portray natural landscapes, conveying the calm that comes from being surrounded by nature.
These scientific insights explain why artists select their color palettes with care. Colors aren’t just surface details—they are deeply embedded in our biology, influencing us on levels we may not even consciously recognize.
Colors are the quiet force of art—they can soothe us, excite us, make us laugh, or even bring us to tears. In the hands of an artist, colors become tools for creating emotional landscapes, inviting us to see the world through their eyes. Modern neuroscience has recognized colors as powerful stimuli, and it’s no surprise that artists have used this force for centuries to shape our perception of the world.
The Symbolism of Color Across Cultures
Colors don't speak just through artists—they also communicate through the cultural lenses we view them with. Their meanings can vary dramatically depending on where you are in the world. While black may represent mourning, death, and mystery in Western cultures, in Eastern traditions like Japan, it's white that carries the weight of grief and farewells. One of the most fascinating examples of this is white—it’s often a symbol of purity and new beginnings in the West, but in Japan, it signifies death and mourning. This reveals how the same color can carry radically different meanings depending on the cultural context.
One of the most iconic examples of color used to express emotion in art is Pablo Picasso. During his "Blue Period," Picasso used dark, melancholic shades of blue to express his grief and reflection after the death of a close friend. Blue dominates his paintings from this period, evoking feelings of sadness and loneliness. However, as his emotional state shifted, Picasso moved into his "Rose Period," using warmer tones to reflect a period of personal transformation and emotional recovery.
Green, in Western contexts, is often tied to nature, peace, and fertility, while in Islamic cultures, it carries deeper religious significance—symbolizing paradise and a sacred connection to the divine. This universal association of green with spirituality can be seen in Western art as well, though here it often signifies renewal and growth. In China, red holds special significance. Instead of signaling danger, as it often does in the West, red in China represents happiness, joy, and prosperity. It’s used in all major celebrations, including weddings and festivals, because it is believed to bring good fortune. Conversely, red in Western cultures often conveys urgency or caution, though it also symbolizes love and passion. In India, yellow holds special meaning. While in many Western countries yellow is associated with light and happiness, in Indian culture, it represents holiness and wisdom. Monks in India and Southeast Asia often wear yellow robes as a symbol of enlightenment and the spiritual journey.
Pablo Picasso - La Repasseuse. Image in the public domain, source: GetArchive
Understanding the symbolism of color across cultures is not just an interesting anecdote—it’s key to a deeper appreciation of art. Artists worldwide use these cultural codes to convey universal emotions but also to provoke specific responses from different audiences.
Artists and Their Relationship with Color
Artists often form deep, personal connections to the colors they use. They choose colors not only for their aesthetic value but also for their ability to communicate emotion. Henri Matisse, for example, famous for his bright and joyful tones, used color as his primary means of expressing vitality and happiness. His paintings are filled with light and color, celebrating life in all its forms, even in the simplest of scenes. Matisse’s works are not only visually stunning—they are a testament to the joy of living.
In contrast, artists like Wassily Kandinsky delved into the spiritual dimensions of color. Kandinsky believed that colors carried spiritual energy and could directly affect the viewer’s soul. In his book "Concerning the Spiritual in Art," he described how different colors evoke specific inner vibrations. For him, blue symbolized depth, peace, and infinity, while yellow carried the energy of irritation and restlessness.
Color in Contemporary Art
Artists like James Turrell and Olafur Eliasson are redefining the role of color in art, using light and technology to create immersive environments that fully engage the viewer and evoke profound emotional responses. These artists don’t simply use color as pigment on a canvas; they treat it as light that transforms space and alters perception.
James Turrell is renowned for his use of light as his primary material. In his works, color is created through light that fills the space, making it almost tangible. Turrell’s installations, like his "Skyspaces" series, feature ceiling openings through which natural light enters, changing the color of the room depending on the time of day and weather conditions. These shifts create a feeling of floating or disorientation, allowing viewers to connect with color on an instinctual, almost spiritual level.
"The Light Inside" installation, by James Turrell, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas. Image in the public domain, source: GetArchive.
His installation "The Light Inside" (1999) at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, features a tunnel bathed in blue and purple light, making viewers feel as though they are walking through pure light with no clear physical boundaries.
In his monumental "Roden Crater" project, set in a volcanic crater in Arizona, Turrell uses natural and artificial light to create a unique experience of observing the sky under varying conditions. Viewers experience different shades of light and color as the sky changes, transforming the entire space into a tool for exploring perception. Here, Turrell's use of light as color becomes almost tangible, reshaping our understanding of space and light.
Olafur Eliasson, too, uses light and color in groundbreaking ways, often creating immersive installations that transform environments. His iconic work, "The Weather Project" (2003), installed in the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern in London, used monochromatic light, mirrors, and mist to simulate a sunlit sky. In this installation, viewers are fully immersed in a fabricated landscape where light and color become the primary tools for creating atmosphere. What’s particularly interesting is that viewers are encouraged to become part of the work by lying on the floor and gazing at their reflections in the mirrors above, fostering deeper engagement with the space.
Another notable piece by Eliasson is "Your Rainbow Panorama" (2011), a circular walkway of rainbow-colored glass on the rooftop of ARoS Museum in Denmark. As viewers walk through, they experience the city through various color filters. Here, color isn’t static—it changes with the viewer's movement, offering a fully personalized experience of light and color. Eliasson’s combination of light and color always invites active participation, turning the space into a dynamic, ever-changing environment.
Both Turrell and Eliasson use light and color in ways that transcend traditional art forms. Their works are not merely visual—they are multisensory experiences that explore how light, color, and space affect our emotions, perceptions, and sense of reality. Their installations represent the cutting edge of contemporary art, merging art, science, and technology to push the boundaries of how we experience color.
Colors aren’t just decorative elements in a work of art—they are a vital part of how artists communicate with their audience. Through layers of blue, red, yellow, or green, artists reveal their inner worlds, inviting us to explore emotions, thoughts, and ideas alongside them. Whether it’s the calm of blue, the passion of red, or the melancholy of gray, colors are the universal language of art, connecting us all, regardless of culture or language.