We use cookies to give you the best personal experience on our website. If you continue to use our site without changing your cookie settings, you agree we may place these cookies on your device. You can change your cookie settings at any time but if you do , you may lose some functionality on our website . More information can be found in our privacy policy.
Please provide more information.
Stylus no longer supports Internet Explorer 7, 8 or 9. Please upgrade to IE 11, Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Edge. This will ensure you have the best possible experience on the site.
stylus
trends		 consumer
lifestyle		 consumer
product		 consumer
engagement		 topics view all
reports		 events
calendar		 blog about
stylus		 login
stylus trends
Consumer Lifestyle
Food, Beverage & Hospitality
Fashion
Beauty
Product Design
Colour & Materials
Retail
Media & Marketing
topics
view all reports
events calendar
blog
about stylus
T&C
careers
contact us
login
Colour & Materials

Mike Kelley

The work of American artist Mike Kelley (1954 – 2012) embraced performance, installation, painting, music, video and sculpture. A veteran of the Los Angeles conceptual art scene, Kelley died earlier this year at the age of 57. Stylus looks at the evolution of colour usage throughout his career, taking inspiration from his early sculptural works that use unexpected objects, through to his later painted pieces.

Share:
Published:
10 May 2012
DOWNLOAD PDF
RELATED REPORTS
Olafur Eliasson: Panoramic Awareness Pavillion
Olafur Eliasson: Panoramic Awareness Pavillion Eliasson: Panoramic Awareness Berlin studio Olafur Eliasson’s recent large-scale light sculpture is reminiscent of its Your Rainbow Panorama – a spectrum of different-coloured glass installed along an elevated walkway for immersive coloured effects. The Panoramic Awareness Pavilion evolves this idea further. 
Colour & Materials
Arts & Pop Culture
24 Dec 2013
Synthetic
Synthetic Synthetic Advances in material processing and colour application see a bright synthetic palette emerge. High-tech and experimental methods of layering, coating and injecting colour enhance materials’ qualities and forms. Radiant and glossy materials such as resin and glass are coloured and manipulated for an ultra-modern edge. We see coloured glass manipulated into fluid-form architecture, while vivid-coloured resins are used to coat wood.

The Synthetic palette features intense highlight colours Princess Blue and Guava tempered by Cool Grey and Lime Yellow. Green Crystal, Pearl and Copper Pink add a lustrous sheen.
Colour & Materials
Colour Spectrum A/W 2015-16
15 Nov 2013
Hidden Forms
Hidden Forms Hidden Forms The emergence of layering finishes and materials for semi-translucent effects marks a dynamic shift from the recent popularity of transparent materials. What can be seen (or unseen) is intriguing designers and consumers alike. Graded opacity – a parallel to graded colour – can change the impact of a product in its surrounding space, while semi-translucent materials and mesh-like constructions provide new treatments of concealment and camouflage.
Colour & Materials
Materials Focus 2015
20 Jun 2013
Mineral
Mineral Mineral A growing interest in the peculiarities of the natural world is inspiring designers and artists to create mythical landscapes. Experimentation with technique and elemental materials is forming intriguing lustrous surfaces and colours. Opulent and luxurious themes evolve from these innovations, including shimmering new discoveries in structural colour and dark mysterious visuals of nature. 

The palette contains rich dark tones of Night, Mulberry and Lotus Green, brightened by intense shades of Bright Yellow and Rust. Enigmatic lustres include Pollia Purple, Citrine Green and Gold Ore.
Colour & Materials
Colour Spectrum A/W 14-15
08 Nov 2012
Absolut Unique: Artful Vodka Bottles
Absolut Unique: Artful Vodka Bottles Absolut Unique French-owned Swedish liquor brand Absolut Vodka has released four million uniquely designed bottles. It’s the first ever limited-edition range produced by a spirits manufacturer where every single bottle is different.
Food, Beverage & Hospitality
Alcohol
03 Sep 2012
VIEW ALL Reports
Transparent Futures
Transparent Futures Transparent Futures Transparent interfaces are set to have a huge impact on communications technology, gaming devices and public spaces. Several electronic research companies are racing to produce the most durable, lightweight and flexible screens for their products. Stylus presents the emerging innovations in transparent materials.
Colour & Materials
Materials
16 Aug 2012
Tom Fruin: Kaleidoscopic Watertower
Tom Fruin: Kaleidoscopic Watertower Kaleidoscopic Watertower Kaleidoscopic Watertower, by US artist Tom Fruin, was installed in Brooklyn, New York this month. Synonymous with the city’s skyline, this vibrant replica watertower has been made from reclaimed plexiglass and steel.
Colour & Materials
Architecture & Spaces
02 Jul 2012
Christopher Jenner: Swell
Christopher Jenner: Swell Christopher Jenner: Swell London-based furniture designer Christopher Jenner’s Swell collection taps into alien forms, hyper-realistic paint finishes and complementary colour palettes. 
Colour & Materials
Interiors
14 Jun 2012
Perspex: A New Generation
Perspex: A New Generation Perspex: A New Generation A new generation of artists and designers are rediscovering the bright hues and finishes of Perspex, harnessing this long-established material anew. Stylus reviews the current and abundant applications of this material across a range of disciplines.
Colour & Materials
Materials
24 May 2012
Gemstones: Precious Hues
Gemstones: Precious Hues Gemstones: Precious Hues Changing attitudes towards coloured gemstones are seeing the range of hues present in fine jewellery broadening to include less-heard-of stones. Stylus investigates market drivers in both the bespoke and mass-produced sectors – speaking with London-based jeweller and gemologist Patrick Wyatt and global crystal supplier Swarovski to discover the most directional colours for forthcoming seasons.
Fashion
Womenswear
17 May 2012
Polished, Cast & Fluid: Materials in Contemporary Art
Polished, Cast & Fluid: Materials in Contemporary Art Polished, Cast & Fluid A fascination with polished, cast and liquid surface finishes has seen a renewed material awareness in the work of contemporary artists. Stylus profiles the techniques used by four of the art world’s rising stars – who are receiving plaudits for their considered approaches to material finishes.
Colour & Materials
Arts & Pop Culture
30 Apr 2012
Atomic3: Éclats de Verre
Atomic3: Éclats de Verre Atomic3: Éclats de Verre Montreal design studio Atomic3 produced the colourful, site-specific installation Éclats de Verre as part of the city’s annual Créer l'hiver competition.
Colour & Materials
Arts & Pop Culture
23 Apr 2012
John Chamberlain: Choices
John Chamberlain: Choices John Chamberlain American sculptor John Chamberlain’s life’s work is celebrated at New York’s Guggenheim Museum this spring, where approximately 100 of his pieces spanning seven decades are on show. The recent death of the Indiana-born artist (1927 – 2011) has led to an increased interest in his practice, in which compressed car components play a large part. Stylus discusses the artist’s take on the use of metallic and automotive paint finishes, drawing inspiration from his signature scrap metal works.
Colour & Materials
Arts & Pop Culture
18 Apr 2012
Inna Babaeva: Sprayed Foam Sculpture
Inna Babaeva: Sprayed Foam Sculpture Inna Babaeva New York-based fine artist Inna Babaeva experiments with colour and materials – specifically expandable foam – to create surreal compositions that incorporate familiar pre-fabricated objects.
Colour & Materials
Arts & Pop Culture
10 Apr 2012
Matthias van Arkel: Silicone Paintings
Matthias van Arkel: Silicone Paintings Matthias van Arkel Swedish fine artist Matthias van Arkel dyes sheets of silicone rubber and compiles them in textured artworks reminiscent of abstract paintings.
Colour & Materials
Arts & Pop Culture
03 Apr 2012
Colourful Performative Sculptures
Colourful Performative Sculptures Performative Sculptures Belgian fashion designer Walter Van Beirendonck has collaborated with Austrian artist Erwin Wurm to create a series of colourful works titled Performative Sculptures as part of the designer’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection.
Colour & Materials
Fashion
29 Mar 2012
Phillip Low: Acrylic Colour
Phillip Low: Acrylic Colour Phillip Low Using coloured acrylic polished to varying degrees, New York-based artist Phillip Low creates sculptures that adopt the aesthetic of prisms and prismatic colour separation.
Colour & Materials
Arts & Pop Culture
19 Mar 2012
David Hockney: A Bigger Picture
David Hockney: A Bigger Picture David Hockney Prolific British artist David Hockney is celebrated by London’s Royal Academy of Art this spring with the exhibition A Bigger Picture. The body of work focuses on the artist’s recent paintings, iPad drawings and films inspired by England’s Yorkshire countryside. Stylus investigates the artist’s expressive and inspirational depictions of vivid seasonal colour.
Colour & Materials
Arts & Pop Culture
08 Mar 2012
John Chamberlain: Choices
John Chamberlain: Choices John Chamberlain: Choices American sculptor John Chamberlain is the subject of a large retrospective at New York’s Guggenheim Museum.
Colour & Materials
Arts & Pop Culture
08 Mar 2012
Hyper-Real
Hyper-Real Hyper-Real Hyper-Real is a vivid palette that embodies themes of hyper-real digital imagery, iridescent and lustrous metallic pigments, and slick glossy automotive finishes. Celebrating the sensuous nature of the ultramodern visual landscape, many creatives look towards futuristic visions of our world to inspire innovation. Stylus presents a selection of key artists, designers and techniques that are motivating the mainly metallic saturated palette.
Colour & Materials
Colour Spectrum A/W 13-14
28 Feb 2012
Rashad Alakbarov’s Light Artworks
Rashad Alakbarov’s Light Artworks Rashad Alakbarov Azerbaijani artist Rashad Alakbarov’s recent exhibition at art auction house Phillips de Pury’s London space included a projected image created using transparent coloured plastic objects and a light source.
Colour & Materials
Arts & Pop Culture
17 Feb 2012
Spencer Finch: Painting Air
Spencer Finch: Painting Air Spencer Finch American artist and colour researcher Spencer Finch showcases his latest series of works, titled Painting Air, at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum later this month.
Colour & Materials
Arts & Pop Culture
14 Feb 2012
Maison & Objet: Table & Kitchen
Maison & Objet: Table & Kitchen Table & Kitchen Trends are developing slowly and organically, with brands refining their offerings and working on designs that they know will sell – updating classics and adding new elements and colourways to popular ranges.

Here is the Stylus pick of directions and highlight table and kitchen brands.
Product Design
Maison & Objet
02 Feb 2012
Portable Monuments
Portable Monuments Portable Monuments London-based artists Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin have used simple coloured blocks as signifiers in a series of photographs that reflect war imagery found in popular media titled Portable Monuments.
Colour & Materials
Arts & Pop Culture
01 Feb 2012
Prismatic Colour
Prismatic Colour Prismatic Colour English polymath Sir Isaac Newton changed the way we understand colour and light. Published in 1704, Opticks details his findings regarding the dispersion of white light into the spectrum of visible colour using a crystal prism, and still acts as a source of inspiration for creatives today. Stylus highlights the aesthetic influence of this scientific approach to colour in contemporary art and design.
Colour & Materials
Colour
25 Jan 2012
Music in Colour by Tim Bavington
Music in Colour by Tim Bavington Music in Colour Las Vegas-based fine artist Tim Bavington uses sprayed paint to depict his response to music.
Colour & Materials
Arts & Pop Culture
23 Jan 2012
Urban Art: Painting Machines
Urban Art: Painting Machines Urban Painting Machines Artists have always embraced experimental mark-making techniques in an effort to introduce new methods of image production into their work. Stylus examines the recent fascination with mechanical drawing machines, many of which are founded on basic mechanical principles and expand upon foundations in street art.
Colour & Materials
Applications
02 Dec 2011
Harmonic Convergence, Miami International Airport
Harmonic Convergence, Miami International Airport Harmonic Convergence American sound and architecture specialist Christopher Janney has designed Harmonic Convergence – an interactive sound, light and colour installation that has recently opened in Miami International Airport, Florida.
Colour & Materials
Architecture & Spaces
24 Nov 2011
Tacita Dean for Tate Modern
Tacita Dean for Tate Modern Tacita Dean: Tate Modern Berlin-based artist Tacita Dean is the latest artist to occupy London gallery Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall.
Colour & Materials
Arts & Pop Culture
12 Oct 2011
Olafur Eliasson: Your Rainbow Panorama
Olafur Eliasson: Your Rainbow Panorama Your Rainbow Panorama Crowning the top of the ARos Museum of Art in Aarhus, Denmark, Olafur Eliasson’s latest work Your Rainbow Panorama, is a pioneering exploration of architectural colour. Stylus visited the city to experience the immersive effects of this breathtaking installation.
Colour & Materials
Architecture & Spaces
06 Sep 2011
Plastic Fantastic
Plastic Fantastic Plastic Fantastic Plastic has changed the visual landscape of the modern world. Stylus investigates the emerging trend for replicating the plastic aesthetic in fashion, media and industrial design, using playful synthetic colour.
Colour & Materials
Materials
21 Apr 2011
Bold, Bright Urban Colour
Bold, Bright Urban Colour Bright Urban Colour Ambitious projects in Europe, Asia and the Americas signal that large-scale applications of colour are proving an effective antidote to recessionary gloom and a powerful way to reinstall pride in civic spaces.
Colour & Materials
Applications
21 Jul 2010
About Stylus Terms & Conditions Careers Contact Us

Updated
Related
 ©  PANTONE®TPX
 COATED
 RAL
 RGB
 HEX
 NCS