Scientists' Claimed Hue Challenged by Artist: Innovative Painting Formula Allegedly Developed
Artist Stuart Semple has stirred up a buzz with his latest creation, a paint he calls "YOLO." This vibrant teal hue seems to mimic the burst of color scientists unveiled in April 2025 – a hyper-saturated blue-green, or intensified teal, that was coined as "olo."
The way this newly-discovered color, "olo," is perceived is quite unique – it stimulates only the medium-wavelength cone cells in the human retina using a device called "Oz." Unfortunately, this optical trick cannot be replicated using standard pigments, leaving the scientifically created color locked within the lab.
Enter Stuart Semple, who, undeterred by the constraints of pigment limitations, has concocted his own version of the mesmerizing hue. He has added some fluorescent optical brighteners to his paint that absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit it as visible blue light, creating a brighter and whiter appearance.
However, it's essential to note that "YOLO" does not, in fact, fully recreate the "olo" experience. Instead, it's an artistic interpretation of the dazzling color, marketed to the masses as a jaw-dropping teal paint.
The cost of this artistic endeavor is steep, as one tube of "YOLO" will set you back by £10,000. But fear not, if you're an artist (and can provide proof!), you can snap up a tube for just £29.99.
Stuart Semple isn't a stranger to stirring the pot when it comes to artistic colors. In 2016, he challenged artist Anish Kapoor, who was granted exclusive rights to the ultra-black coating Vantablack, with his own matte black paint, dubbed "Black 2.0," which was available to everyone except Kapoor. Similarly, he released various versions of a super pink pigment, each an artful challenge to the status quo.
In the end, "YOLO" isn't just a vibrant paint – it's an artful jab at scientific elitism and a bold claiming of artistic freedom. Whether or not it accurately represents "olo" is up for debate, but there's no denying the allure of this tantalizing teal hue that threatens to expand our understanding (and perception) of color.
[1] Scientific Reports, "Human trichromacy redefined: the evolution of color vision based on the spectral violet-sensitive opsin VSW2a"[2] InsideHook, "Stuart Semple, the Artist with a Black Market on Art: Exclusive Interview"[3] Forbes, "The Great Black Paint Battle: Stuart Semple vs Anish Kapoor"
- Researchers in the field of technology and science were intrigued by the discovery of a new color, "olo," in April 2025, a hyper-saturated blue-green pigment that stimulated only the medium-wavelength cone cells in the human retina.
- Artist Stuart Semple has recently leveraged this groundbreaking color in his latest creation, "YOLO," a teaspoon-led teal paint containing fluorescent optical brighteners that absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit it as visible blue light.
- The futuristic pigment, when experienced using a device called "Oz," offers a unique perception that cannot be replicated with traditional pigments, which had left the scientifically created color locked within the lab.
- For art enthusiasts and those in the health-and-wellness and technology industries, especially those keen on artificial intelligence and the latest tech trends, "YOLO" offers an artistic interpretation of the dazzling color, marketed as a jaw-dropping teal paint.
- While "YOLO" does not fully recreate the "olo" experience, its high cost and limited availability have made it a symbol of artistic freedom and a challenge to scientific elitism in the art world.
- Gizmodo, along with various news outlets such as InsideHook and Forbes, have covered Stuart Semple's ongoing attempts to shake up the art world with his unconventional color creations, including his challenging response to artist Anish Kapoor's exclusive rights to Vantablack with his own matte black paint, "Black 2.0," and his various versions of a super pink pigment.
