In the late 19th century, the Impressionists benefitted from newly-invented artificial pigments, allowing them to paint outside in the vibrancy of nature. This meant they were able to use light in new ways, increasing visible colour and creating luminous effects by blending colours optically.

Chaired by art historian James Fox, a panel of contemporary artists will respond to the Impressionist movement in relation to painting now and explore how contemporary painters work with colour, investigating its symbolic and emotional resonance.

Annie Morris uses tapestry, painting, and drawing in her work, but is best known for her ‘Stack’ sculptures, which comprise colourful orbs, painted in vivid raw pigments such as ultramarine, viridian, and ochre. She recently unveiled a new major public sculpture in Wakefield, and will present an exhibition at the Fosun Foundation in Shanghai in spring.

Antonia Showering is a London-born artist, known for her figurative paintings in which many of the elements seem to shift into abstraction. Her recent solo shows have been with Timothy Taylor (2022) and online with White Cube (2020).

Sinta Tantra, a British artist of Balinese descent, is known for her colourful geometric paintings which explore painting on an architectural scale - many of which are in the public realm. Previous commissions include The Contemporary Art Society, Folkestone Triennial, Karaachi Biennale and Canary Wharf London.

Chair: James Fox is Director of Studies in History of Art at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and a BAFTA-nominated broadcaster. His many acclaimed BBC television documentaries include programmes about British art, Japanese culture and an enduringly popular history of colour in art.