Ultra Violet is Pantone's Colour of the Year 2018

Pantone has unveiled its Colour of the Year for 2018, and it's Ultra Violet – a dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade.

8th December 2017

Angie Jones, as part of Saatchi Art x Pantone Colour of the Year 2018 Collection. Image courtesy of Pantone

Pantone adds: "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.

"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 symbolises 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 colour 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 energises the communities that gather there and inspire connection."

The wait is over. Pantone has revealed its Colour of the Year for 2018. Considered as a "dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade", Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking. And it can transform a room into one of extraordinary self-expression.

"We are living in a time that requires inventiveness and imagination. It is this kind of creative inspiration that is indigenous to Ultra Violet, a blue-based purple that takes our awareness and potential to a higher level," explains Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute.

"From exploring new technologies and the greater galaxy, to artistic expression and spiritual reflection, intuitive Ultra Violet lights the way to what is yet to come."

As an expression of the imagination and creativity that Ultra Violet provokes, Pantone has partnered with Saatchi Art to create a limited-edition collection of official Pantone Color of the Year 2018 prints. The collection, available for purchase from 1 January 2018, will include new works by international artists (as pictured), working in painting, sculpture and printmaking, that embody the spirit of Ultra Violet.

What are your thoughts on Pantone's Colour of the Year 2018? Is Ultra Violet a shade you'll consider for next year's projects? Join the conversation on Twitter.

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