The Politics of Colour: How Artists Use Palette to Make a Statement

In the realm of art, colour isn’t just a visual element — it’s a language, a tool, and, at times, a weapon. The hues that decorate canvases, sculptures, and installations can evoke emotions, challenge ideologies, or reflect the personal and political struggles of the artist. The politics of colour is not just about the way colours interact on a canvas; it's about what those colours mean in the context of the society in which the artist works. Just as a painter’s brush strokes can create beauty or chaos, their palette can be a subtle, powerful commentary on the world around them. This exploration of colour is more than a mere aesthetic choice; it’s a form of expression that engages with the viewer on a deeply political and emotional level.

For me, colour has always held a personal, almost magnetic power. Growing up, I remember how the colours in my environment — whether in paintings, street art, or even the fabrics around me — always seemed to speak louder than words. There's something deeply emotional about the way a certain shade of red can evoke urgency or passion, or how a soft blue can wash over you with calmness. I’ve often found myself drawn to the contrasts within a single piece of art, where vivid hues clash or harmonise, creating a dialogue that feels as alive and complex as the world itself. Art, for me, has always been about the interaction between colour and feeling, and I’ve come to see it as a visual language that communicates far beyond the confines of conventional speech. In this light, I can’t help but think that colour in politics does something equally powerful: it becomes a form of protest, a language of resistance, and a declaration of identity.

Source: Kevin O’Connor

Art and Colour: More than the Visual

When most people think of art, they think of what they can see. Yet, to stop at the visual is to miss the point. Artists use colour not only to create a mood but to make a statement — whether they are drawing attention to inequality, highlighting the struggles of marginalised groups, or critiquing the status quo. Colour, when used intentionally, can turn an innocuous painting into an arena for political discourse. For example, the work of the renowned African-American artist, Kerry James Marshall. His bold use of colour to represent Black bodies and experiences challenges the way Black figures have been historically depicted — or, more often, erased — in Western art. Through his striking use of deep, rich tones, Marshall paints the Black experience not as a footnote but as the central narrative, filling in the spaces where history often left out the full story.

Likewise, Frida Kahlo’s use of colour was integral to her personal and political expressions. The vibrant palette in her works symbolises not only her Mexican heritage but also her fierce resistance to the limitations imposed upon her as a woman, an indigenous person, and a disabled individual. Kahlo’s colour choices resonate with a deep connection to her identity, as if the hues themselves are a declaration of independence from the constricting roles she was forced to play in society.

But colour in art isn’t always a message of empowerment or resistance. It can also be a mirror to the times, reflecting the prevailing attitudes of society, whether those attitudes are political, cultural, or social. The muted tones in works of the early 20th century, such as those found in the Dada movement or during the bleak periods of the Great Depression, reflect the somber moods of artists in response to a world in crisis. The politics of colour can speak not only through vibrancy and intensity but also through the absence of colour, such as the use of greys, blacks, and whites to depict the despair of war or political unrest.

The Colour of Identity: How Race and Culture Shape Palette

The use of colour in art is also profoundly intertwined with cultural and racial identity. For centuries, the Western art canon has relegated people of colour to the margins, often using a narrow palette that excluded the vibrancy of non-European experiences. Yet, this very exclusion has become a powerful tool in contemporary art, with artists reclaiming colour to tell their own stories.

The colour purple (which is also my favourite colour… if you couldn’t tell) is a colour long associated with royalty, luxury, and power. In the context of African-American artists, purple is often used to symbolise the resilience and complexity of Black culture, subverting its traditional associations with wealth and privilege to instead highlight the historical struggles and triumphs of Black communities. In works such as those by African-American artist Amy Sherald, the deliberate use of bright colours, including shades of purple, serves as a bold, unapologetic declaration of Black identity. Sherald’s portraits of African-Americans — often in striking, non-naturalistic colour combinations — transform her subjects into icons, placing them on a pedestal where they are denied the stereotypical depictions of victimhood often imposed on Black figures in art and media.

Sherald's work reminds us that colour is more than decoration; it’s a means of asserting one’s own narrative in the face of erasure. The same could be said for the vibrant use of colour by indigenous artists, such as the work of Jaune Quick-to-See Smith. Her vivid colour choices aren’t simply about aesthetic pleasure: they are a deliberate act of resistance, a reclaiming of space in the art world that has often excluded or misunderstood the voices of Native Americans.

Colour is also intimately tied to nationalism and cultural pride. In countries that have experienced colonisation, colour often becomes a tool for reclaiming national identity. When artists incorporate the colours of their flags, they are not simply referencing patriotism; they are asserting a resistance to the forces that once tried to erase or diminish their culture. This is particularly evident in Latin American art, where artists frequently use the vibrant colours of their heritage to challenge the historical narratives imposed by colonial powers. The colours of the land, the people, and the culture are painted not as a backdrop but as the foreground, as the beating heart of the artwork.

The Politics of Colour in Social Movements

The connection between art and politics becomes even more evident when examining the role of colour in social movements. Whether it’s the rainbow flag of the LGBTQ+ community, the black-and-white images of the Civil Rights Movement, or the fiery reds and oranges of revolutionary posters, colour serves as a tool for advocacy and change.

During the Civil Rights Movement, colour was both a visual tool and a method of resistance. The use of bold contrasts between light and dark tones in photographs by artists like Gordon Parks didn’t just capture the intensity of the moment, it highlighted the stark divisions in American society — divisions that could no longer be ignored. Parks’ photographs of Black Americans in moments of hardship or joy, using high-contrast black-and-white photography, made visible the contrasts between oppression and liberation, between suffering and hope. The very choice of black-and-white photography spoke to a historical binary, the racial divide in the United States, but it also conveyed a deeper message: the movement for equality was a matter of life and death, of stark survival.

Meanwhile, the rainbow flag that symbolises LGBTQ+ pride is an example of how colour can transcend art and enter the realm of activism. Designed by artist Gilbert Baker in 1978, the rainbow flag is a celebration of diversity, inclusion, and acceptance, with each colour representing a different aspect of the LGBTQ+ experience. Red symbolises life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for harmony, and purple for spirit. Through this simple yet profound use of colour, the flag has become a rallying point for the LGBTQ+ community, turning a visual element into a powerful symbol for human rights and equality.

In similar ways, artists who participate in social movements use colour to speak truth to power. The politically charged posters of the Chicano art movement, often using bright, saturated colours, were a tool to both express cultural pride and to protest against the discrimination faced by Mexican-Americans. The vibrant colours that adorned these posters were not simply for show; they were a means of telling the world, “We are here, and we will not be silenced.”

Source: Daisuke Yokota

The Absurdity of Colour in Political Propaganda

Of course, colour doesn’t always have noble intentions. In the realm of political propaganda, colour is frequently used to manipulate, control, and persuade. The Nazis, for example, used the colour red in their flags and uniforms to symbolise strength, power, and urgency. The association of red with blood and revolution, combined with the simplicity of the design, made the Nazi symbol instantly recognisable and ominous. In this case, colour was weaponised — not just to unify people but to promote hatred and fear. It’s a reminder that colour, like any tool, can be used for good or ill, depending on the intentions behind it.

Similarly, the use of colour in branding, whether for corporate logos or political campaigns, is a calculated attempt to influence emotions. Think of Coca-Cola’s iconic red and white logo, designed not only to evoke warmth and happiness but to make the consumer associate the brand with energy and excitement. On a political scale, the colour blue in a political candidate’s logo often evokes feelings of calm, trust, and stability, while red tends to suggest energy, urgency, and power. When political candidates are selected, part of their appeal lies in how effectively they “wear” their colour — how well it projects an image that aligns with the electorate’s hopes, fears, and desires.

Colour as a Catalyst for Change

Colour, as we have seen, is far more than just a decorative choice in the world of art and politics. Whether as a symbol of resistance, a tool for empowerment, or a method of social commentary, colour gives voice to the issues that matter most. Artists have long known the power of colour, using it to communicate far beyond the visual plane, giving rise to movements, histories, and revolutions. From the rich, warm tones of Kahlo’s work to the powerful symbolism of the rainbow flag, colour becomes a part of the conversation — a conversation that has shaped the world of art, culture, and politics for centuries.

Perhaps, in a way, colour is our collective subconscious speaking out loud. Like a brushstroke that doesn’t just depict but challenges, colour asks us to look deeper, question further, and think more critically about the world around us. Because, ultimately, it’s not just about what colour is on the surface — it’s about what it says beneath.

S xoxo

Written in London, England

25th February 2025