Professor Andrew Parker’s art and science exhibition on display at Kew Gardens
A unique art and science exhibition created by Visiting Senior Research Fellow Professor Andrew Parker is on display at Kew Gardens in London.
The exhibition is called Naturally Brilliant Colour and it features a cutting-edge piece of technology called Pure Structural Colour, a new type of colour billed as the ‘boldest, brightest colour on Earth.’
Parker worked with scientific researchers at his Lifescaped lab to develop these stunning, jewel-like shades of colour, inspired by the dazzling colours we see in nature such as on the wings of a butterfly or hummingbird.
Plants and animals have microscopic structures in their surface layers which reflect sunlight in unique ways to create these vivid, unforgettable shades. Parker and Lifescaped have recreated these colours for the first time. Pure Structural Colour is an example of what’s known as bio inspiration – replicating structures found in nature for the benefit of human design.
‘Scientists have sought to reproduce the brightest, metallic-like colours of nature for decades,’ said Parker. ‘In Pure Structural Colour, this has been achieved on a large scale for the first time. It is something special to witness these colours as they emerge from our machines – the brightest colours ever seen. They will be revealed to the public for the very first time at this exhibition, in the form of artworks with a complementary natural theme.’
The exhibition explores what Pure Structural Colour is and delves into the history of colour perception and vision, while also displaying artworks created using Pure Structural Colour including the world’s first botanical artwork by Coral G Guest, who mixed flakes of Pure Structural Colour into paint.
Other items on display include a large-scale kaleidoscope containing glass created with Pure Structural Colour and accessories such as Nike Air Jordan 3 RTNA, to show how Pure Structural Colour could be used in fashion.
The colour is produced using only transparent materials which could have a huge impact on sustainability if it could replace pigments, many of which are sourced unethically or unsustainably.
Naturally Brilliant Colour runs at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art at Kew Gardens until 26 September 2021.
Further information on the Naturally Brilliant Colour exhibition.
Earlier this summer, we were delighted to welcome audiences to our inaugural Garden Play, with a series of sold-out performances of Shakespeare`s `As You Like It` set in our beautiful college grounds.
Our gardens became the Forest of Arden as students, staff, alumni and the wider Oxford community came together to enjoy open-air theatre in a truly unique setting. Even better, the production has received fantastic reviews from Oxford`s student press.
A huge thank you to everyone who performed in and supported this wonderful initiative.
These peaceful moments around college were captured by work experience student Izzie.
They celebrate the beauty of the college gardens and the simple joy of taking a closer look!
Thank you Izzie for sharing your perspective with us 🌸
Many congratulations to this year`s Nautilus Award winners! 🎉
These annual awards celebrate the exceptional contributions our students make to the Green Templeton College community.
Read all about the winners in our bio! ✨
As conservation work continues on the Radcliffe Observatory, we were delighted to climb to the very top of the impressive scaffold and enjoy a unique perspective on this iconic landmark.
Along the way, we uncovered some fascinating details—and a few cheeky surprises—carved into parts of the stonework. ✨
These hidden marks offer a glimpse into the stories, craftsmanship, and personalities that have become part of the building’s rich history. Stay tuned as we continue to share more behind-the-scenes moments from this remarkable conservation project.
Congratulations to all of the @gtcball2026 survivors 🪼🫧🪸🧜🌊✨
