This summer, Sheffield’s Millennium Gallery invites visitors to explore a spectacular world of colour. The show features over 150 fascinating objects from art, science, nature and history, alongside a wide range of interactive displays perfect for a family day out.
Running from Thursday 19 June to Sunday 14 September, the show brings together over 150 fascinating objects from art, science, nature and culture. Expect everything from shimmering bird feathers and insect wings to iconic artworks by Hokusai, Kandinsky, Bridget Riley and Andy Warhol.
The exhibition is structured around four key themes:
- How is Colour Made? – a dive into pigments and dyes from plants, minerals, and more
- Is Colour Useful? – showcasing how humans and animals use colour to communicate or hide
- What Does Colour Mean? – exploring the emotional, cultural, and symbolic power of colour
- What is Colour? – Investigating the science of how colour is seen and understood
This vibrant display includes a striking Rangoli sand art installation by Sheffield’s own Ishita Chatterjee and a bold new mural by Grace Visions, created for the city’s Lick of Paint festival. Visitors can also see prehistoric gold jewellery, a sparkling Trinidadian carnival costume and family-friendly features such as optical illusions and activity trails.
Lucy Cooper, Exhibitions and Displays Curator at Sheffield Museums, said:
‘Colour is such a fundamental part of our lives and the world around us, it’s sometimes easy to overlook how remarkable it really is. This exhibition, created with our MAGNET partners and our brilliant Cultural Advisors, will shine a spotlight on colour and the world of wonders it represents.’
The exhibition has been co-curated with local Cultural Advisors, whose contributions include a hand-woven keffiyeh from Yemen and a handcrafted blouse from Brazil, helping shape the themes and stories showcased throughout the displays.
Colour opens at Millennium Gallery on Thursday 19 June and continues until Sunday 14 September – entry to the exhibition is free, suggested donation £5.
